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Teenager unintentionally killed his friend
A TEENAGER has admitted unintentionally killing one of his friends with a single blow on a nightclub dance floor.
Joseph Longstaff, 18, from Hollyhill Gardens, Stanley, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Graeme Pounder, 21, at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard Longstaff struck Mr Pounder who collapsed instantly and died at Newcastle General Hospital two days later.
Longstaff, who had previously pleaded not guilty to murder, was remanded in custody until July 21 when he will be sentenced.
Judge Esmond Faulks told the court he accepted the manslaughter charge because he agreed Longstaff did not intend to kill or to do really serious harm to the victim.
Both Longstaff and Graeme Pounder were attending a party for a friend at The Loft nightclub in Durham City in March.
Mr Pounder, a gardener and taxi desk clerk, was on a life support machine for two days before it was switched off with his family by his side.
It is thought he had a heart attack after the incident and suffered brain damage.
Graeme was described by his family as a loving and caring son who liked to party.
He had suffered tragedy in his life when his daughter, Kaitlin, was stillborn in 2003.
One year later, his brother, Kevin, was killed in a car accident, aged 20.
Graeme, a Newcastle United fan, was buried alongside his brother in his club's shirt with his name and the number one on the back.
Hundreds of friends and relatives gathered to pay their last respects and every seat in St Andrew's Church, in Stanley, was taken, with dozens more well-wishers standing quietly outside.
A black and white flag, bearing the Magpies' club crest was draped on his coffin.
The feathers displayed on the heads of two horses which pulled his funeral carriage were also black and white, while a funeral car carried numerous floral tributes, many bearing heartfelt messages.
He leaves his parents, three brothers and a sister.
4:37pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
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