Second open verdict for one punch victim in Consett
Maxine Thompson-Curl's son Kristian died when he was just 19 after being punched once in Consett.
The mam of a Consett teenager who died after a one punch attack says she’s ‘astounded’ and ‘gutted’ following an open verdict result in the second inquest into his death.
19-year-old Kristian Thompson-Curl was found dead nine months after being assaulted by a man outside the town's K2 nightclub.
He received a catastrophic brain injury in the attack and was receiving rehabilitative care.
The first inquest into his death was given an open verdict and his family fought to have a second inquest.
Their wish was granted by a High Court in May 2015 and Kristian’s mam Maxine wanted an inquest today to accept that if it wasn't for the attack, Kristian would still be here today.
However, it’s believed there wasn’t enough evidence to suggest that Kristian has developed epilepsy as a result of his injury, despite the risk of him developing the condition being 35% over his lifetime.
A jury agreed with the open ruling and Coroner Andrew Tweddle called it an ‘emotional’ and ‘distressing’ case but explained that medical science didn’t allow the connection to be made between the attack and Kristian’s death.
Maxine said:
“I’m just astounded still really and the ultimate feeling I’ve got is I’m gutted. I’m really gutted that these people who we’ve been dealing with in this court, these medical experts, just can’t see common sense. Does common sense not come into it?
“On this occasion we aren’t going to get the justice but I will make sure that for the rest of the time that I’m alive people will know what happened to my son.
“I’ve lived through it. I haven’t got justice and I’m now working with lots of families who are victims of a one punch assault. It just makes me more determined, more determined to make changes.”