The killer bouncer

Jul 8 2005 By James Cartledge

A nightclub bouncer who killed a father-of-three on a family night out was today jailed for five years.

Doorman Dhoondha Nath Nahar was sentenced after a jury took more than 11 hours to find him guilty of unlawfully killing Keith Moore outside Broad Street nightspot Flares.

The 50-year-old British Gas manager collapsed “like a log”, smashing his head on the ground, after Nahar punched him in the face.

Nahar closed his eyes briefly as a Birmingham Crown Court jury convicted him of manslaughter, by a majority of 10-2. Mr Moore’s wife of 29 years, Kathy, clasped her hands to her mouth as the verdict was returned. She said she was “delighted” with the result.

“Justice has been done but Keith died needlessly and nothing can bring him back,” she said.

“I hope we will now be able to look to the future but it won’t be the same without Keith.”

Mrs Moore, aged 47, said she was “100 per cent” convinced of Nahar’s guilt after sitting through all four days of evidence.

“These last few months have been absolutely traumatic.

“I would like to thank all my family, friends and the police for their support,” she said.

The Moores, of Woolmore Road, Erdington, were at Flares celebrating the forthcoming 21st birthday of their daughter, Sarah, and bidding farewell to their soldier son, Christopher, who was being posted to Northern Ireland.

But Mr Moore and Christopher were ejected after a reveller touched Sarah’s bottom as the family tried to leave at 1.30am on October 10 last year. Nahar, 23, of Preston Road, Winson Green, claimed Mr Moore was drunk and must have fallen to his death.

But he admitted trying to restrain the dead man and telling other doorstaff that he “whacked” him.

Det Sgt Steven Smith, of West Midlands Police, praised Mrs Moore’s composure throughout her court ordeal.

“Kathy and her family have handled themselves and the situation with great dignity,” he said.

“This should have not have occurred and there was no need for it.

“Nahar involved himself in something when there was no need for him to do so.”