A man described as “raging” has been sentenced to prison for the brutal killing of a British war veteran during a violent incident fueled by alcohol and drugs. Gregory Twigg, 32, from Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, attacked Lee Woodward, a medically retired veteran, while he was out with his fiancee Kate Griffin in June 2022. Twigg, who was reportedly intoxicated, left Woodward severely injured, leading to his death in the hospital months later.
Twigg had already been serving a lengthy sentence for a previous offense of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Following a second trial in July this year, he was found guilty of murder and has now been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 11 years. The court heard that Twigg’s unprovoked attack on Woodward, captured on CCTV, resulted in fatal injuries.
In his defense, Twigg claimed he had only intended to give Woodward a black eye to stop him from bothering him and his friends, but the situation escalated. Despite expressing remorse for his actions, the court highlighted Twigg’s history of violence, including previous convictions for battery and threats to kill.
During the sentencing, the judge criticized Twigg for prolonging the case by denying the murder charges, causing further distress to the victim’s family. The judge emphasized that Twigg’s actions constituted a sustained and severe assault, questioning the sincerity of his remorse. Twigg’s defense lawyer acknowledged his client’s understanding of the gravity of his actions but noted that true remorse should extend beyond regret for the consequences.