A Night Out That Ended in Tragedy
A young British father's life was tragically cut short during a stag weekend in Greece, sparking a six-year battle for justice that has uncovered serious questions about the police investigation. Matt Jeffery, a 35-year-old from Somerset, was on the party island of Zakynthos, known as Zante, in May 2019 when a single punch led to his death.
Matt, who worked for the AA, was a devoted husband to Charlotte and a father to his daughter, as well as a father figure to Charlotte's other daughter. His wife described him as "the most amazing human being in the world", a sentiment echoed by his friends who knew him as a kind and helpful man who was "the first number in everyone's phonebook".
The Fatal Attack and a Crucial Video
The incident occurred in the popular resort town of Laganas. After a day by the pool and an evening out, Matt's group visited a club called Sizzle, where a separate group from Essex was also present. A fight broke out inside the club, and CCTV shows Matt trying to break it up before his group decided to leave.
What happened next was captured in a crucial 19-second mobile phone video, later given to police. It shows Matt outside the club with his arms open wide in a non-threatening posture. He is confronted by Luke Brownsdon, who aggressively says, "If you want it, we'll f*****g have it." Moments later, Matt is hit on the side of the head by one person, and as he is momentarily unstable, Brownsdon delivers a powerful uppercut that knocks Matt onto the road. Friends recall the sickening crack as his head hit the ground.
Matt was airlifted to a hospital in Athens but never regained consciousness. His family flew to his bedside, where his brother Paul described the shock of seeing him "wired up to machines, his head almost twice the size". After five days, doctors concluded his life could not be saved.
A Trial, a Conviction, and a New Suspect
In the early hours of 24 May 2019, Greek police arrested two men: Adam O'Brien and Luke Brownsdon. Police identified O'Brien as throwing the first punch and Brownsdon as throwing the fatal one. They were charged, released, and allowed to return to the UK to await trial.
Nearly four years later, in March 2023, a trial was held in Patras. Brownsdon was found guilty in absentia and sentenced to 12 years for fatal bodily harm. O'Brien was also convicted and given 10 years, though he also did not attend. The Jeffery family had to crowdfund for legal costs and witness flights.
However, a Sky News investigation uncovered significant flaws in the case. The prosecution relied on a police statement claiming both men admitted involvement upon arrest. But court documents reveal O'Brien told police, "I didn't touch anyone". In a written statement for the court, he named a new individual, stating, "I have no connection with the above criminal act committed by my compatriot William Locke."
This name, William Locke, was not mentioned during the trial. Crucially, the video of the attack shows the man who threw the first punch wearing distinctive white sports shorts with black piping. A photo from the club on the night shows O'Brien in black shorts, but another man from the Essex group, William Locke, is pictured wearing the same white shorts as the assailant.
An extradition lawyer hired by the O'Brien family, Karen Todner, gathered statements from five members of the Essex group, all confirming the man in the white shorts was Locke. A facial mapping expert's report also found "strong support" that the man in the video was William Locke, not Adam O'Brien.
Despite this new evidence being presented to an appeal court in Patras in December 2024, O'Brien's conviction was not overturned. Instead, the court reduced his sentence to three years, suspended. O'Brien's parents maintain their son's innocence, stating their "hearts truly go out" to the Jeffery family.
The Ongoing Quest for Justice
For Matt's family, the new information is agonising. His brother Paul stated they "wouldn't want an innocent person to go to prison" and hope the correct person is convicted. Lawyer Karen Todner believes UK police should now investigate William Locke, who can potentially face proceedings in Britain.
In a significant development in April 2025, Luke Brownsdon was arrested on a building site in Essex and is now in custody awaiting extradition proceedings. For Matt's wife Charlotte, this felt like "one step closer to getting the justice that we've been fighting for."
As for William Locke, he has never been questioned by police over Matt's death. Sky News confronted him at his home, showing him the image of the man in the white shorts. When asked if it was him, he drove away without comment. It was later revealed that after Matt's death, Locke was convicted for his role in a major drug-dealing gang and has since been released from prison.
Back in Zante, the party strip continues to attract young British holidaymakers, a stark reminder of the fragility of life. Charlotte Jeffery has a final message: "Hopefully... people that are watching this; just think twice before you go out throwing punches and being violent, because it's not going to get you anywhere."
