Anthony Ellis was jailed for life for murdering Igor Pavlov in ManchesterAnthony Ellis

A thug who was convicted of battering a homeless man with a branch may not have been convicted again for his murder 12 years later, prosecutors have said.

Anthony Ellis, 36, was jailed for life on Wednesday, August 27, for the murder of Igor Pavlov. He had attacked Mr Pavlov with a tree branch, striking him at least five times to the head, in Whitworth Park, in Manchester city centre, on September 11, 2012.

Mr Pavlov, then 41, was left with severe brain injuries and a fractured skull. Ellis, then 23, admitted causing wounding with intent on the day of his trial and was jailed for 12-and-a-half years.

However, in July 2023, Mr Pavlov, aged 52, sadly died as a result of an illness caused by the brain injuries.

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In order for Ellis to be charged with his murder, prosecutors had to prove that the assault he had already been convicted of was a significant contributing factor to his death.

Martin Hill, a senior lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “Just because we convicted someone, it doesn’t mean that we are going to get a conviction again.”

Outlining the stages of bringing the charges, the CPS had to prove that the death was as a result of an unlawful act and that the suspect intended to inflict at least serious harm.

As it had already been established that Ellis was responsible for the assault, prosecutors consulted a pathologist to conduct a post mortem which concluded that Mr Pavlov’s cause of death was bronchopneumonia, neurodisability and a blunt force head injury.

They also looked at Mr Pavlov’s medical treatment over the last 12 years and the chain of causation.

“At that point we would have to get the Attorney General’s consent. We have to prepare a report setting out that the evidence test was met, and why we think it is in the public interest to prosecute,” said Mr Hill.

“This was a senseless attack and a shock in the community, it was clear there was a public interest element. They were complete strangers. We are saying he [Ellis] caused the death and he should be held accountable for that.

“We didn’t have an issue proving intent as he had pleaded guilty to GBH [grievous bodily harm]. And he was found to be a dangerous offender at sentencing.”

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With that evidence, the CPS were able to build a case with Greater Manchester Police and ultimately charge Ellis with murder. He pleaded guilty at a hearing a month later.

‘He suffered horrendously’

Prosecutors were not able to clarify what the motivation was behind the attack. Ellis had claimed they had gotten into an argument. Evidence from Mr Pavlov’s friends did not support those claims, Manchester Crown Court heard.

“The last confirmed sighting [of Mr Pavlov] was he was sitting on the park bench, then Ellis approached him and carried out this sustained and ferocious attack with a tree branch, fracturing his skull,” Mr Hill said.

“He left the park after the assault and some time later returned and called for an ambulance. He said he came across Mr Pavlov in an injured state and started guiding the ambulance and even carried out first aid.”

“Once the police obtained the CCTV and examined the clothing, it was clear his account was not true.”

Jailing Ellis for life to serve a minimum term of 15 years, minus the 12 years he had already served in prison, judge Suzanne Goddard KC told him: “He must have suffered horrendously before his death. He was left severely disabled receiving round the clock care, he was bed bound and doubly incontinent.

“He was in a desperately sad state at the end of his life and had no quality of life at all.

“This was a very vicious repeated assault on somebody’s head.”