Man jailed over 'teddy bear' New Year's Day party death

A man has been jailed for five years for a fatal assault on a man at a New Year's Day party in Lincolnshire.

Ricardas Mazeika, 30, had denied the murder of Deimantas Strelciunas, 41, during the party at Mr Strelciunas' home in St Ann's Wharf, Boston.

But, on the second day of his trial at Lincoln Crown Court Mazeika pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter.

Mr Strelciunas, who weighed 28-stone and was over six feet tall, was described as a "teddy bear" in court.

Mazeika's plea was accepted after consultation with the victim's family in Lithuania.

The court also heard a victim impact statement from his widow.

In it she said her partner did not deserve to die in such a horrible way and described how their son was upset his father was no longer at home.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath told Mazeika: "There was heavy drinking, not least by you and the deceased, and at about 6.45pm a loud bang was heard.

"The deceased was found lying in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs with you on top of him."

Judge Heath said it was accepted that there was a minimum of three blows used in the attack.

"The attack included punches to the face and a knee to the face when he [Strelciunas] was in a position of vulnerability."

"Why it started is unclear, but it started on the spur of the moment," he added.

The jury had heard the two men shared three bottles of vodka between them in less than five hours before Mazeika became upset when his partner danced with Mr Strelciunas.

Paul Mann QC, representing Mazeika, told the jury: "It was a short fight with no weapon or shod foot used.

"He [Mazeika] at no stage intended to cause the deceased's death or serious injury."