Plaistow pub brawl killer found guilty of manslaughter

A man has been convicted today of the manslaughter of a 29-year-old man who died after a pub brawl.

Reece Hussain, 22, of no fixed abode, was found guilty at the Old Bailey over the death of Edward Stokes at the Army Navy Public House in New Barn Street, Plaistow on March 19.

He was charged with murder but was found guilty of manslaughter.

Hussain was also found guilty of one of two charges of wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm, and not guilty of the second.

He was also found not guilty of wounding with intent but guilty of an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

Another charge, possession of an offensive weapon, was not put to the jury and will be dealt with the court separately on Monday when Hussain is sentenced.

Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons, who led the investigation into Edward’s death, said:

“On that fatal evening a fight took place between two groups which led to the death of Edward Stokes.

“His death was needless as he was not involved in an earlier altercation that Hussain had with some other men but he was caught up in a subsequent, singular callous act of violence, where he was singled out and fatally stabbed twice.

“Edward was both unarmed and defenceless. His attacker went on to hurt others in a bid to escape from the pub, injuring a number of unarmed people in the process.

“Edward’s life was needlessly ended. I hope that Hussain-Lester’s conviction bring some form of closure to Edward’s family.”