A Royal Marine has been jailed after fatally striking a chef in the jaw with a single punch because he ‘disrespected’ him.
Joseph Jones, 22, delivered a savage blow to 29-year-old ‘gentle giant’ Cemal John Yilmaz outside a bar on Lower Fore Street in Exmouth, Devon, on Saturday, December 13.
Mr Yilmaz was described in court as a much-loved, larger than life character who was never aggressive.
He had done nothing to provoke the punch which came without warning as a large group of local people and Marines gathered outside The Loft bar and grill.
Jones, from Wolverhampton, lost his temper in a ‘second or two of madness’ when Mr Yilmaz joked that he was from Birmingham.
Jones told his fellow Marines in the aftermath he did not let anyone disrespect him.
The Marine’s career is now in tatters, Exeter Crown Court was told.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for three and a half years, Devon Live reported.
Royal Marine Joseph Jones, 22, (pictured) was sentenced to three and half years behind bars after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of ‘gentle giant’ Cemal John Yilmaz, 29, whom he killed with a single punch to the jaw
However Mr Yilmaz’s mother, who is distraught by the sentence, said ‘justice has not been done’.
The court heard that Mr Yilmaz had been out with friends on the night he died.
Witnesses described him as being in good spirits, joking with people and hugging them.
There was no atmosphere or any tensions outside the bar and everyone seemed to be having fun.
Witnesses heard Jones telling Mr Yilmaz he was from Wolverhampton and not Birmingham.
He suddenly threw a powerful punch which landed on the jaw of Mr Yilmaz with such force that he was probably unconscious before he hit the ground.
There was a ‘terrifying thud’, said one witness, as his head hit the road surface.
Members of the public, including one of Jones’s Marine colleagues, stopped to help the injured man.
‘Are you serious, Jones?’ said one of the Marines.
The killer walked away from the scene without stopping to help.
His fellow servicemen asked why he punched the man and Jones said he had been ‘making fun’ of where he was from.
Lee Bremridge said other Marines concluded Jones was ‘out of order’.
Mr Yilmaz was taken to Derriford Hospital with a broken jaw and fractured skull.
Jones was initially arrested for causing grevious bodily harm with intent, and when Mr Yilmaz died on December 16, that charge was changed to manslaughter.
The Marine told police he had not felt threatened and was not acting in self defence. He did not realise he had injured the victim so badly.
Judge James Patrick said: ‘To those who knew him Cemal Yilmaz was a larger than life character – a big softie – who would not hurt a soul. He was loved and admired.
‘He died as a result of your actions. There is nothing this court can say or do to lift the burden or reduce the loss to those who loved him and miss him.
‘You took offence and within a second the atmosphere changed. You turned really quickly and swung a punch to his face. You struck him in the jaw.
‘You told your group you had been disrespected and no one disrespects you. You hit him because he was making fun of where you from.’
He added: ‘I accept the blow you landed was spontaneous and lacked premeditation. It was a second or two of madness and you are genuinely remorseful.’
Nick Lewin, defending, said Jones had been trained to the highest military standards and that some of that training required him to act with force.
He had not ‘disapplied the brakes’ in this fatal incident but is deeply sorry, Mr Lewin said.
Jones sobbed as the family of Mr Yilmaz read out moving personal statements.
The victim’s mum, Ann Marie Yilmaz, said her son had loved his family deeply and their hearts were broken by his loss.
His brother described Mr Yilmaz as his ‘guardian and protector’ and ‘everyone’s big brother’.