Man jailed over fatal punch at Burnham pub struck in 'act of anger and frustration'

A man has been jailed for manslaughter over the death of another man who was killed from a single punch at a Burnham High Street pub.

Usman Hanif, 29, of High Street in Langley, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison at Aylesbury Crown Court today (June 2).

Hanif had been found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict for causing the death of John Barry, 54, whom he hit once in the face at the Red Lion pub last year.  

Judge Jonathan Cooper said: “Anyone whose unjustified violence causes the death of another person must face the consequences of the law.”

The Red Lion in Burnham High Street

Hanif punched Mr Barry at around 00.50am on Saturday July 20, 2024.

The court heard that Hanif had been standing near two women whom Mr Barry had sexually assaulted moments earlier.

CCTV images from the pub showed Mr Barry had walked in between the two and had touched them inappropriately over their clothing, the court heard.

Judge Cooper said when Mr Barry was challenged by the women, he began to walk back towards them and had responded: “With words to the effect of, ‘would you like me to do it again?’”

Judge Cooper said Hanif had ‘responded, quite instinctively, by pushing [Mr Barry] away from them as he approached them’.

He added: “If things had ended there your victim would still be alive. But you did not end things there.

“In an act of anger and frustration, you punched him once to the face sending him to the ground.”

While Hanif and Mr Barry had been restrained by people at the pub, Hanif punched Mr Barry with such force that he was knocked unconscious before he hit the ground, the court heard.

Emergency services revived Mr Barry at the scene, but he later died in hospital.

Sentencing Hanif, Judge Cooper said: “It was a single punch of course, not intended by you to cause serious harm, but the fact is that it did - and it ended the life of John Barry, bringing utter devastation to his family.”

Hanif was removed from the pub and was arrested by police that same day.

Judge Cooper said alcohol had played a ‘significant part’ in the actions of both Hanif and Mr Barry.

He said: "It’s worth remarking, that this behaviour, of which all parties agreed had occurred, was wholly out of character for this gentlemen [Mr Barry]."

He said: “Mr Barry had no convictions for any such behaviour and his brother confirmed that in all of their socialising throughout his adult life there had never been any precedent for this kind whatsoever.”

Of Hanif, he said: “Just as the behaviour of John Barry was unprecedented and inexplicable, your own behaviour was wholly out of character.

“You’re not a fighter, you’re not a puncher.”

He said: “In your trial for manslaughter no one suggested that your initial push upon him was inappropriate or unjustified in the situation as you understood it to be.

“However, the Crown’s [prosecution’s] case was that your punch to Mr Barry’s face was wholly unnecessary.

“The man offered no threat to you. He was already restrained.”

Defence barrister John King said Hanif was 'clearly remorseful' for the attack. 

The sentencing took place at Aylesbury Crown Court

At the trial were members of Mr Barry’s family, including his brother and sister Kevin and Tracy, who had personal statements read out at the sentencing.

Kevin Barry’s statement, read by prosecution barrister Jonathan Stone, said: “It felt as if the impossible had happened and lightning had struck our family twice.”

The court heard how Mr Barry’s late-sister Ann had been murdered in 2010.

Judge Cooper said: “That [the Barry] family has been affected by violence in the most awful way on two separate occasions leaving the impact of the survivors in devastation and despair.”

Hanif was also ordered to contribute £3,400 towards Mr Barry’s funeral costs.