Simon Gebrengus has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court for pushing a man down a flight of stairs at a nightclub, resulting in his death.
The incident occurred on September 26 last year at Sebene Habesha nightclub in Newtown, Birmingham. The victim, 33-year-old Berhane Tsegay, was forced down the steep staircase and died in hospital three days later. CCTV footage captured the event involving fellow Eritrean nationals Bibi Gilzgi and Gebrengus.
Gilzgi allegedly provided the majority of force by grabbing Mr Tsegay and throwing him down the stairs. Gebrengus, 44, of Anderson Road in Erdington, was said to have added support by extending his hand and pushing the victim. Both men admitted manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court. However, a jury could not decide whether Gilzgi attempted to murder Mr Tsegay, and he faces a retrial next January.
Justice Akhlaq Choudhury noted that Mr Tsegay was heavily intoxicated and began causing irritation to the defendants at the nightclub. The judge told Gebrengus: "Pushing a person down a steep flight of stairs can be an act to carry some risk of death and subsequently a risk of causing serious injury." The judge concluded that Gebrengus did not use a high degree of force and the action was not premeditated.
