WHAT MUM COULD COPE?'

One punch teen who killed stepdad in row over pocket money cleared of manslaughter as judge reveals mum’s anguish at giving evidence against her own son

A TEENAGER who killed his squash champion stepdad with a single punch in a row over pocket money has been acquitted of manslaughter as the judge revealed his mother’s anguish at having to give evidence against her own son.

Douglas Herridge, 18, claimed he acted in self-defence when he felled 6ft 4in “gentle giant” former national champion Colin Payne, 54, with a blow to the side of the head.

JIM BENNETT

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Douglas Herridge, now 18, was on trial accused of killing his ‘gentle giant’ stepdad in a row over pocket money

SQUASH MAD

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Squash champ Colin Payne collapsed after being punched on the side of the head and died soon after

The bathroom shop owner collapsed to the floor at his Dartford home last November and died soon afterwards from a devastating brain injury.

Herridge, who was 17 at the time, claimed Mr Payne had his hands round his throat when he lashed out.

He said he threw one punch that missed and then threw a second which caught him on the side of the face.

JIM BENNETT

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Herridge’s mum Ina was praised for her ‘stoicism’ after giving evidence for the prosecution  

Herridge’s mother witnessed the incident and gave evidence for the prosecution.

She praised by the judge for her “stoicism”.

Judge Jeremy Carey added: “What mother could possibly cope with a situation in which she has had to give evidence for the prosecution and the defendant is her child.”

JIM BENNETT

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Mrs Herridge, who witnessed the incident, reportedly had no contact with her son following his arrest

Mrs Herridge refused to comment following the verdict but said: “This has been a very stressful time.”

Herridge told the court that he had no contact with his mum since his arrest apart from seeing her at previous court hearings.

She was later seen sitting with Herridge outside the court.

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Mrs Herridge met Mr Payne in February 2014 and he moved in with the family six months later

Herridge was initially put on trial for murder, but Judge Carey told the jury they would only have to consider a verdict on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Maidstone crown court heard the tragedy came during “the final of many recent arguments” over money when Mr Payne stepped in to shield his partner as her son demanded cash.

Richard Hearden, prosecuting, told the jury: “That single punch was catastrophic and led rapidly to Colin’s death.”

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Former squash champion Mr Payne, 54, owned three bathroom stores in the South East

The court heard how Mrs Herridge’s split from her husband David in 2011 caused tremendous “emotional turmoil” in Douglas, the younger of their two sons.

Mrs Herridge met divorced father-of-two Mr Payne in February 2014 and moved in with the family six months later.

Douglas then left the house for 18 months before returning ahead of starting college and taking on a number of jobs including a stint with an air conditioning firm.

The court heard he would become upset, angry and agitated, including an incident when he put his hands on his mother’s throat and others when he punched and kicked her and tried to push her down the stairs.

The jury of seven men and five women returned a not guilty verdict after deliberating for six hours and 44 minutes.

Herridge, who said he liked Mr Payne, added he could not believe it when told he had died.