A man who caused fatal injuries to his victim on a farm near Canterbury at Easter 2024 has been jailed.
Robert Onicala punched Ion Niculae following a trivial disagreement over music at a party to celebrate Easter on 5 May 2024. Mr Niculae, 51, was knocked unconscious and, despite the work of paramedics, was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
Following enquiries at the farm off Nickle Lane, Chartham, officers arrested Onicala the same evening and he was taken into custody.
Witnesses told how the victim and another man had got into an argument about music during a barbecue and games organised by farm workers. In a matter of seconds, the other man had slapped the victim, before Onicala punched the victim to the side of the head, causing him to fall to the floor.
Onicala was later charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court in September 2024.
The 20 year old from Chartham, was brought back before the same court on 17 January 2025 and sentenced to four years in a young offender institution. The other man involved in the incident was given a suspended sentence for assault at a previous court hearing.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Colin McKeen said:
‘This case shows all too clearly that using violence during an argument can have the most tragic consequences.
‘A man has lost his life and another will now serve a term in prison for a dispute which could so easily have been settled by reasonable compromise.
‘My thoughts and those of my team are with the victim’s family and I hope the conclusion of this case gives them some relief as they continue to grieve.’