A 16-year-old boy was today found guilty of killing a Polish man with a single 'Superman punch' after mocking his English in an attack outside a takeaway. 

The defendant, who was 15 at the time of the attack, had denied the manslaughter of Arkadiusz Jozwik, but was found guilty by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Mr Jozwik, 40, had been drinking vodka with two friends and had just bought a pizza when he was set upon outside a row of takeaway shops in Harlow, Essex, shortly after 11.30pm on August 27, 2016.

He died two days later in hospital from head injuries.

Rosina Cottage QC, prosecuting, earlier told the week-long trial that the defendant moved behind Mr Jozwik, jumped up from the ground and used the 'whole force of his body' to hit Mr Jozwik with a 'Superman punch'.

The defendant, who was in The Stow shopping precinct after going to a kebab shop, said he hit Mr Jozwik, who was known to his friends as Arek, 'to defend my friend. Ms Cottage said laughter could be heard during the incident, and the defendant agreed with her description that this was 'around the time he (Mr Jozwik) was saying 'fight me' and weaving around'. 

He also agreed with Ms Cottage's description that this was because Mr Jozwik 'looked such an idiot'.

Ms Cottage said: 'If you didn't like it, you could have scarpered, couldn't you?'  The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, replied: 'Yeah.'  

The court also heard there was some laughter 'about their English' (of the Polish men) and the defendant moved behind Mr Jozwik before striking him. 

The defendant will be sentenced on September 8 at Chelmsford Crown Court.