In a village still reeling from unimaginable tragedy, the heartbroken family of David Darke has paid an emotional tribute to the “most upright and righteous man” they ever knew – a devoted grandfather whose final act of simple human kindness cost him his life.

David “Dave” Darke, 66, a much-loved father of three daughters and proud grandfather to three boys, died in hospital six days after being punched outside the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, just days before Christmas 2025. He had stepped forward to help a man who had been knocked down in a fight – only for that same man to allegedly turn on him in a fit of humiliated rage.

Now, as Nathan Gothard, 36, of Church Street, Appleby Magna, stands trial for murder at Leicester Crown Court, the family has spoken out in raw, devastating terms. They described a gentle, active, intelligent family man who was a friend to everyone – and who should never have become involved in the ugly confrontation that ended his life.

“Dave was a deeply loved father to three daughters and a proud grandfather to three boys,” the family said in a poignant statement. “He was a much-loved brother and a dear friend. Dave will live on forever in our hearts, minds and souls.”

“He was a strong, active, intelligent and kind person who was a friend to all. He was a devoted family man with a deep passion for life, the outdoors, nature and walking. His life was tragically cut short and he’s now reunited with his loving, caring parents. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.”

One family member went further, capturing the essence of the man in words that have touched the nation: “He was the most upright and righteous man I know.” The tribute carries an extra layer of heartbreak – because that same decency, that instinctive desire to help someone in trouble, is exactly what led to his death.

The court has heard how Gothard, after a night of heavy drinking and provocative behaviour inside the Crown Inn, was thrown out following crude remarks to women in a large Christmas party group. Instead of going home – he lived just yards away – he allegedly circled back to the front of the pub looking for more trouble. He picked a fight with another man, lost badly, and ended up on the ground, bloodied and humiliated.

That’s when David Darke, who had nothing to do with the earlier aggression, stepped in. Like any decent person would, the kind-hearted grandfather reached down and helped pull the defeated Gothard back to his feet.

What happened next, prosecutors say, was nothing short of chilling. In a burst of humiliated fury, Gothard allegedly swung a powerful punch that sent Mr Darke crashing backwards. His head slammed against the unforgiving pavement outside the pub. The injury was catastrophic. Rushed to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, David Darke fought for his life for six days before passing away on December 27, surrounded by his devastated family.

The sheer cruelty has left the tight-knit village of Appleby Magna in mourning and the wider public furious. A good man trying to do the right thing – repaid with lethal violence. And now, as Gothard denies murder (while admitting the punch in his defence of manslaughter), the family’s words echo with painful clarity: David Darke should never have intervened.

His loved ones know only too well that his upright, righteous character made him the type of person who couldn’t walk past someone in need. That instinct, which defined him throughout his life, became the moment that stole him from them.

Friends and neighbours have echoed the family’s tribute, remembering Dave as the sort of man who embodied old-fashioned values – dependable, community-minded, always ready with a helping hand or a friendly word. A passionate walker and lover of the outdoors, he enjoyed the simple pleasures of life in rural Leicestershire: nature, family gatherings, and the quiet rhythm of village life.

The Crown Inn, once a peaceful local watering hole, has become a place of national sorrow. On that fateful December 21 evening, the warm glow of Christmas cheer turned to horror in the cold street outside. CCTV footage is expected to play a central role in the trial, capturing the sequence that began with Gothard’s aggression and ended with an innocent grandfather lying unconscious on the ground.

Prosecutor Peter Joyce KC told the jury that Gothard attacked Mr Darke “to save his own face” after losing the first fight. “He hit him so hard that he killed him,” the court heard. “You do that in your rage because of intent to cause someone really serious harm – that’s murder.”

Gothard, who appeared in the dock wearing black glasses and was seen shaking his head at times, denies the charges. His defence claims the fatal punch was not murder but a lesser act born of the moment – a stance that has only deepened the family’s pain and public outrage.

This case has thrown a harsh spotlight on Britain’s ongoing epidemic of one-punch killings, fuelled by alcohol, fragile egos, and casual violence on nights out. How many more lives must be lost before the message sinks in? One punch can end everything. And helping someone should never be a death sentence.

For David Darke’s three daughters and three young grandsons, Christmas will never be the same. The empty chair at family gatherings, the missing laughter, the walks in the countryside that will never happen again – all ripped away in a moment of senseless brutality.

Yet through their grief, the family has chosen to remember the good. They speak not just of the tragedy but of the wonderful man who filled their lives with love. A devoted dad. A proud grandad. A friend to all. The most upright and righteous man they knew.

As the trial continues, the village of Appleby Magna stands united in support for the Darke family. Tributes have poured in from across Leicestershire and beyond, with many expressing disbelief that such a kind act could end so brutally.

“He didn’t deserve this,” one local said. “Dave was just being Dave – trying to help. And now he’s gone.”

The family’s message is clear: remember David Darke not only for how he died, but for how he lived – with integrity, kindness, and a moral compass that guided him to do the right thing, even when it wasn’t easy.

In their statement, they chose hope amid sorrow: Dave lives on in their hearts, minds, and souls. His legacy as a loving family man and pillar of decency will endure long after the headlines fade.

But the anger remains. Anger that a night out in a quiet village pub ended in death. Anger that a grandfather’s compassion was met with violence. Anger that his family must now face life without the man they described so beautifully.

Nathan Gothard stands accused of robbing them of that. The jury will decide his fate. But nothing can bring back David Darke – the upright, righteous grandfather who only wanted to help.

His family’s tribute stands as a powerful memorial: a celebration of a life well lived, cut short by one devastating punch outside the Crown Inn.

Britain mourns with them. And prays that no other family has to endure the same heartbreak because someone chose violence over decency.

The trial continues. Justice for Dave cannot come soon enough.