A thug who kicked a stranger to death “like a footballer” as he lay on the ground in a street brawl has been jailed for seven years.
Joseph Otinkoran Ankrah, 31, slapped victim Aaron Springett across the face in the scuffle outside a bookmakers in Morden, then shoved the 32-year-old to the ground.
As Mr Springett lay there Ankrah twice kicked him in the chest, striking him so hard that his heart ruptured. Mr Springett was able to walk a short distance after the attack, on April 19, before collapsing with internal injuries.
Ankrah was identified as the killer on CCTV and arrested two days later. Yesterday he admitted manslaughter and was jailed at Kingston crown court.
The incident started when Ankrah left the bookies in London Road just before 10pm and began arguing with Mr Springett. The pair, who did not know one another, grabbed each other by the collars and, after an initial scuffle, Ankrah slapped Mr Springett across the face.
A bystander stepped in to try to stop the violence, but Mr Springett shouted at Ankrah who angrily walked towards him and pushed him to the ground. Police said the killer dealt the kicks “like a footballer”, before being dragged away to stop him inflicting further injury.
After sentencing, Mr Springett’s sister Lucy Rowe said the moment she learned of her “lovable, bubbly and friendly” brother’s death “my whole world came crashing painfully down. My brother, best friend and confidant was taken away as a result of a senseless act at the hands of another”.
Detective Inspector Will White, who led the investigation, said: “Ankrah was unable to control his anger and attacked Aaron. Ankrah kicked Aaron with such force that it caused his heart to rupture and resulted in Aaron losing his life.
“I’m pleased that Ankrah recognised the weight of the evidence against him and chose to admit that his reckless actions resulted in Aaron’s death.”
Ankrah, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter as a lesser alternative to murder and prosecutors accepted the plea.
