Dzan Etem was just 16 when he brutally punched a stranger to the ground despite him posing “no threat” to him or his friends
Dzan Etem, 19, of Prescot Road
A man was left with “life-altering injuries” after being knocked to the ground in an unprovoked attack. Dzan Etem delivered one horrific punch to Eisa Abderahman on the night of July 2, 2022. It came as Etem, of Prescot Road, Fairfield, was out with friends in Clayton Square in the city centre when an altercation occurred with the victim, who was 38 at the time.
His friends soon left before he delivered the one punch that has since left Mr Abderahman unable to live independently after he suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain. Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court this morning (July 2), it was heard how Etem, who was 16 at the time, fled the scene following what witnesses described as a verbal altercation moments before he delivered the debilitating punch.
Following a social media appeal with a photograph of Etem, he handed himself in to police when his schoolteachers recognised him.
After pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm on the opening day of his trial on June 3 this year, the court was told he had not committed any further offences in the three years that have followed the assault.
Maxwell Cope, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Abderahman, 41, is “unable to live by himself” and is currently in care.
Mr Abderahman had previously been homeless and suffering with alcohol addiction before he was given accommodation by the YMCA and had appeared to “get his life back on track” when the life-changing assault took place.
Matthew Buckland, defending, explained there had been no other incidents since the assault and told the court he has shown remorse for his actions.
Mr Buckland told the court: “He must live with the damage he has done to another human’s life. [Mr Abderahman’s] life will be fundamentally changed for the rest of his life.”
The CCTV image Etem’s teachers recognised(Image: Merseyside Police)
Delivering his sentencing, Judge Andrew Menary, said: “Mr Abderahman was someone who was in this city and came here from abroad. He had struggled with alcohol and had been homeless for some time. He had been doing better and had been provided with accommodation by the YMCA.”
He continued: “There was something of an altercation between you, your friends and him. It is pretty clear that I do not accept that he was any real threat to you or your friends.”
Describing his injuries, he labelled them “life-altering” but accepted there had been “some degree of change” in Etem due to the time since the assault.
Judge Menary said how Etem, now 19 years old, stood up and punched Mr Abderahman in the face, “effectively knocking him out”, before he fell backwards and hit his head.
After sentencing Etem, Judge Menary called for an investigation into how Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service had “failed” Mr Abderahman, with Mr Cope telling the court police officers had been unable to interview him due to his inability to understand questions.
Disputing this, Judge Menary claimed Mr Abderahman had been chatty with carers and a “charming man” during his time in care.
Etem was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
As he told Etem, wearing a black shirt, black tie and black trousers, to leave the dock, Judge Menary said: “You have been given this chance, please take it.”