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Man jailed for killing a pedestrian with a single punch over a cycling dispute

Lewis Gill, 20, knocked Asperger sufferer Andrew Young, 40, to the ground with a single blow

Antonia Molloy
Wednesday 26 February 2014 11:16 GMT
Lewis Gill was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for the attack last year
Lewis Gill was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for the attack last year (Dorset Police)

A man has been jailed for killing a stranger with a single punch following an argument about cycling on the pavement.

Lewis Gill, 20, was imprisoned for four years by Salisbury Crown Court on Friday for delivering the blow to Andrew Young, 40.

The victim, who suffered from Asperger syndrome, was knocked to the ground and suffered a fatal blow to the head.

Released CCTV footage shows the attack, which took place outside the Tesco Metro store on Charminster Road, Bournemouth, at 4.25pm on 6 November last year.

The video shows Mr Young talking to an acquaintance of Gill’s about his cycling on the pavement.

The cyclist rides off, but moments later Gill is seen punching Mr Young in the face without provocation, the court was told.

Mr Young is seen falling backwards and striking his head on the road.

Gill, from Sutton, Surrey, is then seen walking away as Mr Young remains motionless on the ground.

He died the next day at Southampton hospital.

Gill pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for four-and-a half-years. Legal experts said he could be free within two.

Mr Young’s family condemned the verdict.

Steven Perian, defending, said Gill had felt threatened by Mr Young, but judge Keith Cutler rejected the claim.

Gill was also sentenced to two three-month prison terms to run consecutively after committing the crime while on a suspended sentence for robbery and for handling stolen goods.

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