Stockwell man who killed friend after row over £30 jailed for 10 years

A man who beat his friend to death over a £30 debt has been jailed.

David Dalling, 45, of Thorparch Road, Stockwell, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Hurbert Hall, 60, at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday/

Dalling was sentenced immediately afterwards to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The court heard that Mr Hall and Dalling were in each other’s company in Hoe Street, Walthamstow in the early hours of Tuesday, April 2 last year having been drinking alcohol together.

At about 6.30pm, the friends began to argue over a £30 debt. Dalling, the youngest and fittest of the two, threw Mr Hall to the floor and began attacking him – kicking him six times in the head.

Dalling walked off to pick up the items that had fallen out of Mr Hall’s pocket, before delivering a seventh sickening kick to Mr Hall’s head before calmly walking away.

A passer-by discovered Mr Hall lying motionless on the floor, face down in a pool of his own blood.

The member of public called 999 and officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and rushed to Mr Hall’s aid.

Mr Hall, from Walthamstow, sustained injuries to his head causing severe blood loss and a traumatic brain Injury. He was taken to an east London hospital where he died at 5.40pm the next day.

An investigation was launched by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime group, and Dalling was arrested on suspicion of murder on April 4.

When he was arrested and cautioned, Dalling made a reply of ‘I understand’ and ‘murder?’

During interview, Dalling answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to him. He was charged with murder and robbery on April 6.

Detective Sergeant Daniel Yeoman said: “Dalling carried out a brutal, vicious attack on Mr Hall over a petty argument over a £30 debt.

“Dalling continued his attack on Mr Hall, even when he was lying defenceless on the ground and clearly injured.

“Dalling then calmly walked away without an ounce of remorse for what he had done to his friend.

“Luckily our enquiries enabled us to swiftly arrest Dalling and the evidence we compiled has resulted in him being convicted and jailed for killing Mr Hall.”