Burnt Oak Tube Station: Man jailed for one punch killing

Dad-of-two Dragos Carabineaunu, 46, was punched in the face by Gabriel Silvera, 20, less than a minute after they met outside Burnt Oak Underground Station for the first time. 

Silvera reacted aggressively to Dragos approaching him and asking for a cigarette, a court heard. 

The punch caused Dragos to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground. He suffered a brain injury and died five days later on November 1 last year. 

Silvera, of Uxbridge Road, Pinner, pleaded guilty to his manslaughter and at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday (October 31) he was given a 12 year sentence. 

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro said: “The reality of the situation is that you reacted violently when the victim approached you. He was older than you, he was unarmed, in drink and entirely harmless. 

“There is no evidence of him being in any way aggressive towards you. You were solely responsible for taking the life of Mr Carabineanu, a totally avoidable death of a fellow human being. 

“Mr Carabineanu was then 46 years of age at the time of his death and this was a senseless and pointless killing and resulted simply, in my judgment, from your loss of temper and aggressive rage.” 

Dragos Carabineaunu (Image: Met Police) Prosecutor Louise Oakley said the fatal punch took place approximately 50 seconds after the pair met for the first time.  

Dragos, who had been drinking with friends nearby, and Silvera, who had travelled to the area from Clapton to pick up his bike, bumped into each other outside the station.  

Dragos pulled Silvera’s arm and asked for a cigarette but showed no hostility or violence, Ms Oakley said.  

After a brief exchange, Silvera punched Dragos in the face before walking away.  

Dragos was found unconscious shortly after midnight, by which time others had stolen his belongings.  

Dragos leaves behind a wife and two children.  

His son, Alex, said: “The loss of our father has changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined.”  

Dragos was working in London to send money back to his family in Romania. 

His family said they now struggle to afford basic necessities.  

Gabriel Silvera (Image: Met Police)

Silvera was arrested on suspicion of murder on November 6.  

When he was shown CCTV footage of the incident he made no comment other than to say “oh f***”. 

Silvera has a history of violence dating back to the age of 14.  

Many of his convictions have been for violence against police officers, Ms Oakley said. 

Allison Summers KC, defending, said Silvera had been the victim of an acid attack in the months prior to this killing. 

She said this may partially explain Silvera’s overreaction when Dragos approached him. 

Ms Summers said: “Gabriel Silvera is a young man who will have to live for the rest of his life knowing that what he did in that momentarily loss of control and temper has caused the death of another man and the lasting pain to his family.” 

The 12 year sentence Silvera received is made up of an eight year custodial sentence and an additional four years on licence. 

He will serve a minimum of two thirds of the eight year sentence before he will be eligible for parole.