NEWS FEED
A man has been jailed for five years and four months after pleading guilty to punching and killing his girlfriend during an argument at a Bournemouth train station.
Daniel Bragg, 37 of Bournemouth, entered a guilty plea to the charge of manslaughter today, (25 October), on the second day of his trial at Winchester Crown Court. He was sentenced this afternoon.
The court heard that at around 3.38pm on Monday 2 May 2016 Bragg and partner Julie Cook were on the platform at Pokesdown train station when an argument began.
CCTV footage shows Bragg assault Julie before she turned around and walked away.
Witnesses described seeing Bragg follow Julie. He punched her with such force that he fractured her left eye socket and rendered her unconscious. Julie fell backwards onto the concrete platform and was unable to put her hands out to soften the landing.
The court heard that Bragg walked away but returned to help Julie who was initially unresponsive. She eventually came around and was dragged up and helped to her flat in Clarence Park Road by Bragg.
It was there that Julie’s condition worsened. Shortly after 8pm on 2 May paramedics were called to the flat. Sadly, Julie died in hospital two days later as a result of her injuries.
A post mortem examination revealed she died as a result of head injuries which were consistent with her hitting her head on the ground. She also sustained a fractured skull, fractured left eye and bruising to the back of her head and right cheek.
The court heard that Bragg and Julie had been together for about four years before the incident and their relationship had been described as volatile.
On 7 April 2016 Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court issued a Domestic Violence Protection Order against Bragg. This prohibited Bragg from contacting Julie or going to her home for 28 days.
However, the couple remained in contact throughout this time and on 28 April a friend of the couple heard Bragg say something to the effect of “one of these days I’m going to kill her” or “if we carry on like this I will end up killing her”.
Detective Inspector Neil Phillips, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We do not know what sparked the argument between Daniel Bragg and Julie that day, however, Bragg assaulted Julie as she walked away from him. There was no justification for such violence.
“Bragg and Julie clearly had a volatile relationship and efforts had been made to prevent further abuse. However, Julie and Bragg continued to maintain contact and she tragically died as a result of his violent behaviour.
“Domestic abuse can include controlling behaviour and I would encourage victims to report it and seek help – you do not have to suffer in silence.
“Along with our own experienced and specially-trained officers who investigate these offences, we also work in close partnership with other support agencies who can offer support, advice and guidance. In addition, the police have various powers to bar suspected perpetrators of domestic violence from contacting a victim and stop them returning to a victim’s home.
“We are committed to preventing coercive and controlling offences as well as serious violent crimes. Perpetrators need to know that these coercive and controlling behaviours are now criminal offences and we will pursue and prosecute.”
