Overview

• James O’Neill, 74, suffered fatal injuries after being punched and kicked by Trevor Gocan during an argument over shutting a gate at the Odhams Walk estate in Covent Garden on October 6, 2024.
• A jury at Southwark Crown Court unanimously cleared Gocan of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter after deliberating for four hours.
• Prosecutors revealed that Gocan struck O’Neill with such force that a tooth was dislodged and kicked him as he lay on the ground, causing a traumatic brain injury and rib fractures.
• The attack, witnessed by members of the public, including a 12-year-old boy, left O’Neill bleeding on the ground; he died in hospital two weeks later after life support was withdrawn.
• Gocan, who claimed self-defence, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 26, 2025, with the case raising concerns about casual street violence in urban communities.