Brain injury victim assaulted outside Black Country pub missed medication night before he died, court told
The victim of an assault suffered repeated epileptic seizures as a result of a traumatic brain injury
A man who suffered a severe brain injury when he was shoved over near a pub did not take some of his epilepsy medication the night before he was found dead, jurors have been told.
Neil Greenway, of Halesowen, was so seriously hurt he was placed in an induced coma after being assaulted by Daniel Sedgley near the Lighthouse Pub, in Coombs Road, Belle Vale, Cradley Heath, on October 8, 2022. As a result of the head injury he developed epilepsy and blindness, and moved into a care home.
Sedgley, aged 35, is on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court for Mr Greenway’s manslaughter.
A jury heard this week that due to his poor condition and high risk of seizures Mr Greenway, aged 52, was prescribed three anti-convulsion medicines in an effort to control his severe epilepsy, also known as ‘tonic-clonic’ episodes.
Giving evidence for the prosecution, neurology consultant Dr Ben Turner, an expert witness who had reviewed Mr Greenway’s health records, said that due to his condition Mr Greenway’s “memory and intellectual abilities were all diminished”.
He said that the night before he died the care home staff recorded that he refused medication. Following the death in November 2023 blood tests showed he had a low amount of one of three anti-seizure medicines in his system.
Mr Turner said: “The fact that levels were low showed he was not complying. This would have been a further risk factor. There is always some risk, but taking medication can improve your chances of not having a seizure.
“You would need to maintain your intake of medicines. By omitting tablets you’re putting yourself at risk.”
Dr Turner also said the brain damage put Mr Greenway at high risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
The jury also heard that Mr Greenway had a cardiac condition and seizures would have put his heart under strain.
After being discharged from hospital Mr Greenway lived in specialist care accommodation at Perton Manor Care Home in Perton near Wolverhampton, and received one-to-one care. He also needed to wear a special helmet and a crash mat was next to his low-level bed.
Thirteen months after the confrontation he died having been found unresponsive on the floor and wearing his helmet by care home staff who went to his room to check on him.
It is the prosecution’s case that the skull fractures and brain damage he sustained in 2022 were caused by Sedgley, who previously served a 20-month jail term in September 2022 having pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Greenway. After Mr Greenway died he was charged with his manslaughter.