A 35-year-old has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after killing a man with a single punch in a town centre.
James ‘Jimmy’ Castle, 68, died in hospital three weeks after the attack outside a pub in Harbour Street, Ramsgate, on March 28.
On Monday, Marshall Mitchell pleaded guilty to what police described as an act of “mindless violence”.
At an inquest opening in May, a coroner said CCTV footage showed Mr Castle approaching a group of three men.
After 30 seconds of conversation, Mr Castle was punched in the face “seemingly unprovoked”.
This knocked him unconscious, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.
“The group walked away, leaving him on the floor and making no attempt to check on his welfare,” the coroner added.
Mr Castle was rushed to hospital in a serious condition, and was placed in a medically induced coma.
His life support was removed on April 17, and he died the following day.
On Monday, Mitchell, of Crescent Road, Ramsgate, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Canterbury Crown Court.
He will be sentenced on November 5.
Detective Sergeant Dean Sycamore said: “This case illustrates the fatal consequences of mindless violence; just one punch can lead to the serious harm, or even the death, of another individual.
“I would like to offer my condolences to the victim’s loved ones, and I hope this now brings some comfort to them.”
