Man jailed for manslaughter of "gentle and caring" Essex man

28 year old Dennie Griffifths has been sentenced for attacking 31 year old Matthew Bion in 2019

31 year old Matthew Bion died after being attacked on a night out
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 19th Jan 2022

A Basildon man has been jailed for seven years for manslaughter, after punching a man who later died from head injuries during a night out.

28 year old Dennie Griffiths, of Paynters Mead, was found guilty of attacking 31 year old Matthew Bion in Billericay.

Matthew had gone for drinks with his partner and friends at a bar in Laindon Road on 17 August 2019.

As he left the bar in the early hours an argument broke out between two groups of people. One of the groups included Dennie Griffiths and his co-defendant Jade Chambers.

Matthew intervened in an attempt to calm the situation and was punched by Griffiths.

He fell to the ground and later died as a result of head injuries.

24 year old Jade Chambers of Hermitage Drive was given a 12 month suspended sentence for assisting an offender.

28 year old Dennie Griffiths

In a tribute issued after the sentencing, Matthew's family said:"Matthew was a peaceful, gentle and caring man - it will forever bring his family and friends such pain that his life was taken through such reckless and unnecessary violence.”

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said:

“Matthew Bion was enjoying a night out with friends when he was needlessly assaulted, sustaining a serious head injury that ultimately cost him his life. He was a completely innocent party.

“The actions of Dennie Griffiths will have a lifelong impact on Matthew’s family, his partner, children and all those who witnessed what happened that night.

“My thoughts are with his family.”

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