Hull: Son and mum jailed over New Year’s Eve party killing

Nathan Burgin, 18, had sparked mayhem in the early hours of New Year’s Day when he suddenly punched a man during a disco at the George pub in Hull.

Burgin and his “shameful” mother Amanda, 38, a school cook, then began to attack revellers at random as they spilled out of the boozer - with her savagely punching one woman in the face six times as she sat in a taxi.

It was then that concerned partygoers and passers-by then began to gather round Burgin, including father-of-one and Wayne Amess, 40, who Nathan Burgin floored with a single punch.

Mr Amess hit his head on the pavement and died as a result of a traumatic brain injury caused by his fall, while the Burgins, of Hull, fled in a car driven by a friend.

The teenager, who was “extremely” drunk and had taken cocaine at the pub, was jailed for six years after admitting manslaughter while his mother was sentenced to 21 months in prison for affray.

Jailing the pair at Hull Crown Court today, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: “Wayne Amess was killed by you, Nathan Burgin, in an alcohol and cocaine fuelled orgy of violence. This was an appalling episode. It was protracted and involved much violence before the final blow was struck.

“Mr Amess was a thoroughly decent man with a family, and his family have been devastated by his loss.

“Amanda Burgin, it is plain to me that instead of calming down your son, you joined in the violent atmosphere by supporting him in what he was doing. Your behaviour was utterly shameful for a mother.”

Prosecuting, Simon Waley said that the mother and son had both been drinking heavily on New Year’s Eve last year and had continued boozing in the first hours of 2011 in the George. Amanda had drunk five pints of beer with five spirit shots.

Nathan had taken cocaine in the toilets and was observed behaving “oddly” before launching into an unprovoked attack on the dance floor.

Mr Waley said: “The defendant thought there had been some inappropriate touching of his mother, got up swiftly and punched a man to the cheek before attacking another.

“The DJ called security and he was ejected. As they got outside, he began punching another man, also kicking him in the face, while Amanda Burgin joined in punching him.”

The pair then walked away from the scene but returned to search for jewellery she had lost in the course of the fracas. Amanda Burgin then targeted a passing woman - whom she had had previous disagreements with - and punched her six times in the face while she sat in a stationary taxi.

She tried to drag the woman out by her hair but the vehicle sped away. It was then that Mr Amess - a “popular, hard-working” man with hearing difficulties and a pal of the pub’s landlord - wandered outside.

Mr Waley said: “Mr Amess was making his way towards the crowd where Nathan Burgin was. There is no suggestion anything had been said between the two or any suggestion Mr Amess was being aggressive.

“The defendant punched him to the face and he fell backwards hitting his head as he did so. Both defendants then began to walk away from the scene and fled in a car driven by a friend.”

Shocked onlookers called 999 and Mr Amess, a binman, was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead in the afternoon of January 1.

Both Burgins were arrested later that day and both claimed to have little memory of the attack. The teenager admitted he had been drunk and had taken cocaine.

His offending began when he was aged just 14 when he was convicted of battery, and has also been in court for shoplifting, threatening behaviour, attempted robbery and another battery. Defending, Mark Bury said he was “genuinely remorseful”.

His mother has two previous convictions relating to dishonesty and theft.

Mitigating, Paul Genney said that she had become involved in a “wholly misguided attempt” to protect her son.

He added: “Had the earring not been lost this episode may never have happened. But they should have taken that opportunity to leave the scene.”

Nathan Burgin admitted manslaughter, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of assault. His mother pleaded guilty to affray.

Tensions between the victim’s family and the defendants’ family were such that they were separated in court while several police officers stood guard outside the courtroom.