Life in prison for man who 'showed no remorse' after kicking Polish steel worker Jan Jedrzejewski to death

'Your only concern was to lie and to dissemble,' judge tells Richard Wallis

Richard Wallis, 43, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years (Gwent Police)

A murderer has been jailed for life for kicking a “kind and honest” man to death as he lay defenceless on a street at night.

Richard Wallis, 43, who is a father and grandfather, denied murdering Jan Jedrzejewski but was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a two-month trial at Newport Crown Court.

In his sentencing remarks, judge Sir John Griffith Williams told Wallis: “My conclusion having observed you throughout the trial is that you are in no way remorseful.

“Your only concern was to lie and to dissemble as you tried to avoid conviction.” Mr Jedrzejewski was 41 when he died following the incident in Keene Street in Newport on 12 January.

Police were called to the scene near Cromwell Stores at around 11pm and found the victim lying “motionless” and “bleeding profusely”.

He died at the Royal Gwent Hospital the next day.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Jedrzejewski’s sister Emilia Klawczynska described him as “really fun-loving... extremely honest and kind.” She thanked her family, friends, employers and Gwent Police for their support.

The court previously heard how Mr Jedrzejewski moved to Newport from Poland in August 2015 and worked full time for Island Steel.

Sir John said: “Jan Jedrzejewski was a popular man, hard-working, well thought of and liked by his colleagues.” He noted he was killed by one or two kicks to his mouth as he lay “defenceless” on the ground.

William Hughes QC, prosecuting, said Wallis had one previous conviction for violence dating back to 2002, but that this was not considered an aggravating factor for sentence.

Paul Lewis QC, defending, argued there was not a significant degree of planning or pre-meditation and said his client had no involvement in taking the victim to the ground.

He suggested there was some provocation from Mr Jedrzejewski himself and others – a line of argument the judge rejected.

Mr Lewis said his client’s involvement was limited to “a single kick”, although he accepted, based on evidence from a pathologist, that kick was “forceful”.

Agreed medical evidence stated the blow had a far greater effect than it otherwise would have done due to the victim’s level of intoxication.

Mr Lewis accepted his client picked up a crowbar, but said there was no evidence he had taken it to the scene.

Wallis, from Keene Street, argued during the trial that he was acting in self-defence, but the judge said: “I am sure as to what happened. There was no element of self-defence.”

Sir John said he would impose a mandatory life sentence with a starting point for the minimum term of 15 years.

He reduced the starting point because Wallis’ intention was to cause really serious injury, not to kill.

But he increased it because the incident involved group violence in the street late at night, “gratuitous” violence and because of Wallis’ attempts to dispose of evidence.

The judge also ruled the victim was particularly vulnerable due to his drunkenness.

Wallis was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years. No separate penalty was made for perverting the course of justice.

Wallis’ mother Catherine Coslett, 64, from Valley View Road, Cwmtillery, was found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Speaking after the hearing, senior crown prosecutor Jamie Dewar said: “Richard Wallis took advantage of Mr Jedrzejewski’s drunken state and attacked him.

“The assault left him unconscious and seriously injured on the ground, bleeding profusely.

“[Wallis] denied that his actions led to Mr Jedrzejewski’s death, but the prosecution was able to prove that they caused the loss of life.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Jedrzejewski’s family.”