Nightclub killer Daryl Brown awaiting sentencing

Doorman Daryl Brown is awaiting sentence after being found guilty of the manslaughter of a father-of-four at Shrewsbury's Liquid & Diva nightclub.

Brown was found guilty by a jury of eight women and four men yesterday after an hour of deliberations at Birmingham Crown Court.

The jury recorded the unanimous verdict after 33-year-old Brown, of Severn Drive, Wellington, denied the manslaughter of Darren Griffiths, of Harmer Hill, near Shrewsbury.

Mr Griffiths, 41, died after a "punishment beating" by doormen at the Liquid & Diva nightclub in Raven Meadows on June 29 last year.

Brown, who was wearing a black suit, looked stunned as the verdict was read out.

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at the same court in the week beginning May 24.

He will be sentenced alongside fellow doorman Neil Stokes, 22, of Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury, who had already admitted manslaughter.

Judge Mr Justice Kenneth Parker said yesterday: "It's been a difficult case, distressing in many aspects and I am not able to sentence today for two reasons.

"Another person needs to be sentenced and this is a case in which I have to consider a form of sentence for public protection, at least in relation to Mr Stokes."

The jury had previously been told by prosecutor Mr Paul Farrer that Mr Griffiths had arrived at the club shortly after midnight on the day of the incident.

He was refused entry into the club and was then grabbed and forced to the ground by three door staff.

Mr Farrer said Mr Griffiths had been taken to a CCTV blind spot and subjected to an attack that lasted eight or nine minutes, which he called a "punishment beating".

The court had heard customers had protested about the "prolonged beating" Mr Griffiths suffered. Brown later told the jury he had "acted properly" on the night when he restrained Mr Griffiths and "didn't realise how seriously injured he was".

Shortly before the jury retired to consider its verdict Mr Farrer told them it was a combination of factors that killed Mr Griffiths.

"Each three stages play a part in causing the tragic death of Mr Griffiths and Daryl Brown was involved in all three of those stages," he said.

By Emma Kasprzak