Man in Coma Over Cigarette

Three men have been imprisoned after they beat a man into a coma over a cigarette. Mr Martin Brammall was attacked in Stockport in August 2008 after he was asked if he had a cigarette, as he was about to get in to a taxi. According to the court prosecutor, Mr Brammall stated that he did not smoke, to which one of the defendants responded that he was lying and shoved him. Following this all three men began to repeatedly punch and kick the victim, leaving him near to death.

Mr Spencer Mullen, Mr Wesley Hiorns and Mr Michael Atherton, all pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, with Judge Jonathan Foster QC stating, “This was yet another case of mindless, drunken violence”.

It is unfortunately becoming common place that these kinds of incidents occur on quite a regular basis, Mr Brammall has now fortunately recovered and is well enough to return to work but for some people the losses that they occur as a result of injuries can be devastating.

The attack was unprovoked and it appears that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (or CICA) can provide compensation for those who have suffered injuries as innocent victims of a violent crime.  

As part of the claim, the Authority will consider loss of earnings claims if you are off work as a result of your injuries for a period of more than 28 weeks, compensating from the 29^th week onwards if your personal injury claim were successful. The amount of the payout would however be capped at a maximum of £500,000.00