Man Jailed for Manslaughter After Fatal Fight at Ukrainian Club
Five-Year Sentence for Fatal Head Injury
Serhiy Pelykh was handed a five-year prison sentence on Friday, 18 June, at Isleworth Crown Court following a retrial. His initial trial in February 2020 ended without a verdict.
Deadly Dispute Outside North London Club
The deadly incident began on 16 June 2019, when police were called to a north London hospital where Stepan Suslyk was admitted with a severe head injury. The victim sadly died two days later without regaining consciousness.
A post-mortem at Fulham Mortuary confirmed blunt trauma to the head as the cause of death. Both men had spent the evening at the Ukrainian Social Club in Holland Park Avenue, though they were strangers before that night.
Fight Erupts During Walk to Taxi
Witnesses said the pair left the club together after Pelykh offered to help Stepan get home to Greenford. However, a disagreement on Holland Park Avenue escalated when Pelykh punched Stepan, causing him to fall.
Pelykh did not call for medical help immediately, instead claiming Stepan had simply fallen due to intoxication as bystanders gathered. After about an hour, a taxi was called to take Stepan home. Pelykh travelled with him but left Stepan with his housemate.
Denial and Arrest
During the investigation, Pelykh denied any involvement in the injury that led to Stepan’s fatal brain bleed. He was arrested on 20 June on suspicion of murder but later claimed self-defence in a prepared statement. Despite this, he was convicted of manslaughter.
“The death of Stepan Suslyk was tragic, unnecessary and wholly avoidable,” said Detective Inspector Maria Green from the Met’s Specialist Crime unit. “All he wanted was to get home after socialising with friends. Instead, Serhiy Pelykh’s violent actions have robbed a wife of her husband and two children of their father. I hope this conviction brings some justice, but it will never bring Stepan back.”
