A Waterfoot man has been found guilty of killing his brother with a punch following a night of drinking at a Rossendale social club.
Brent Clayton, 62, of Taylor Avenue, Waterfoot, was convicted of manslaughter after a four-day trial at Preston Crown Court.
The jury of six men and six women returned its verdict after deliberating for seven hours and 12 minutes.
Clayton had denied unlawfully killing his younger brother Simon Clayton, 58, following an incident at Waterfoot Social Club on November 23, 2024.
Simon Clayton (Image: Lancashire Police)
Simon, from Accrington, suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died at Royal Blackburn Hospital the following day.
The prosecution case was that what began as drunken sparring escalated into violence and that Clayton struck his brother in anger after being punched himself.
Timothy Cray, prosecuting, told jurors CCTV footage showed Brent Clayton wanted the confrontation and that Simon did not.
He argued the defendant's actions were not self-defence but retaliation.
Previous reporting in this case:
Day 1 live updates - Simon Clayton trial - live updates from day one of trial
Day 1 summary - Waterfoot man 'killed brother with fatal punch' trial hears
Day 2 live updates - LIVE court updates as judge begins summing up in 'manslaughter' trial
Day 2 summary - Simon Clayton trial - accused was 'defending himself'
Day 3 live updates - Simon Clayton trial - judge continues summing-up to jury
Day 3 summary - Simon Clayton trial - jury sent out to consider verdicts
During his closing speech, Mr Cray told the jury: "It's Brent who wants it, Brent who starts it, and Brent who finishes it."
The jury heard the brothers had spent the day drinking before travelling to Waterfoot Social Club together.
CCTV footage shown during the trial captured the moments leading up to the incident.
Consultant forensic pathologist Dr Jamie Robinson told the court Simon suffered injuries consistent with a punch and the back of his head striking the floor.
His medical cause of death was given as hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury caused by cardiac arrest caused by blunt force trauma to the head, with acute alcohol intoxication also contributing.
Preston Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)
Clayton told jurors he had been acting in self-defence after believing his brother was about to hit him again.
Giving evidence, he said: "I thought he was going to hit me again so I was defending myself."
However, Judge Robert Altham directed jurors that revenge was not self-defence and that they had to decide whether Clayton had been lawfully defending himself or retaliating in anger.
Judge Altham remanded Clayton into custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on October 14.
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