By Chris Williamson-
A drug-addict killed his friend in a row about £25 which was stolen years ago, after reining multiple punches on him over what he saw as unfinished business, a court heard.
Edward Roberts(pictured) punched his friend, James Robinson, several times at his home in Pitsea, eventually causing a fatal subdural haemorrhage.
Mr Robinson was at his home address, in Maylons Mews, with Roberts in September last year when the attack happened.
Roberts had just been released from a nine-year prison term for grievous bodily harm 12 weeks earlier, and had previously taken drugs with Mr Robinson, at the time of his death. The pair met in prison.
A police cordon in place at an alleyway in the Malyon Mews area of
During his visit to Mr Robinson’s house, Roberts, 48, revisited an old grievance involving £25 was taken from him by Mr Robinson several years ago, and attacked him, punching him several times in the face. He then left the property in the early hours of the morning of September 15.
Missed – James ‘Jimbo’ Robinson Image: Essex police
Initially, Mr Robinson did not appear to be seriously injured, but the bruising to his face got worse. Mr Robinson, who lived alone with his pet dog Ruby, eventually called paramedics later in the day on September 15, who decided he needed urgent hospital care.
Due to the two fractures of his face, Mr Robinson developed a serious brain injury and he died on September 16. Roberts was later charged with his murder.
At Basildon Crown Court today, Roberts admitted Mr Robinson’s manslaughter, which was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Prosecuting, Christopher Paxton QC told the court Roberts had come under financial pressure at the time, chasing people for money. He said: “That led to two men that were ordinarily friends to Edward Roberts resurrecting a previous grievance.
“Roberts said it ‘took the p*** out of him’ as Mr Robinson had kept back £25 from him previously to hand over in person. In short he had stolen that money. That was a grievance that imploded from the use of drink and drugs.”
Mr Paxton read out a message sent by Roberts to Mr Robinson the next morning at 9.42am, where he said “Jim all I can say is I’m sorry” and “Jim you robbed my mum, my bro and me”.
When a friend of Mr Robinson came to visit him that following day, she noticed he was getting worse, and managed to get Roberts on the phone, where he said he “felt bad for what he had done to him”.
‘The loss of James has changed our family’s life forever’
In a victim impact statement, Mr Robinson’s daughter Crystal King shared how the death of her father has impacted her life and the lives of her three children. She also revealed one of her children now sleeps with her grandfather’s photo each night.
She said: “Not a day goes by where I don’t think about this. It’s truly unbelievable how he could be taken away in this way. Although I have gone through the death of my mum before, this is not the same because of the way he was taken from me.