A five-year prison term for a thug who killed a father in a row over queue jumping has ignited a fierce political row, with the Conservatives accusing Labour of presiding over 'soft sentencing'.
A fatal confrontation in Beckenham
Demiesh Williams, 30, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court for the manslaughter of 43-year-old Andrew Clark. The court heard the fatal altercation began when Mr Clark challenged Williams for trying to jump the queue at a Sainsbury's supermarket in Beckenham, south-east London, on March 16.
After an initial argument, Williams left the store but, as seen on CCTV, decided to return. He approached Mr Clark wearing a face covering and struck him on the side of the head with an open hand. The force of the blow caused Mr Clark to fall, his head hitting the floor with an audible crack. He suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died in hospital three days later.
Political fury over 'paltry' punishment
The sentence has provoked widespread outrage, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick leading the criticism. He described the term as 'paltry' and confirmed he is writing to the Attorney General to request the sentence be reviewed.
"Williams committed an appalling crime and yet his prison sentence is paltry," Mr Jenrick told the Daily Mail. "A five year sentence, reduced further under the early release scheme, is not justice." The Daily Mail understands Mr Jenrick intends to formally appeal the sentence.
A family's unimaginable grief
Judge Andrew Lees told the court that Mr Clark was a 'hard-working family man' who was much loved and respected. The victim's wife, Cairistine, and his 14-year-old daughter delivered powerful impact statements to the court.
His daughter, in a statement read by her aunt, said: "My dad was not just my dad. He was my best friend... You got to keep your family, while you destroyed mine in the cruellest way." Mrs Clark directly addressed Williams, asking: "What type of man chooses to kill rather than simply walking away? You are a coward. You are a killer. You are a monster."
Williams, a father of three and a bus driver, had initially denied murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He will serve up to two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.
Calls for justice system reform
In a statement after the sentencing, Mr Clark's family said the prosecution had 'exposed serious shortcomings within our outdated justice system'. They argued that victims are often left without proper protection and that overcrowded prisons pressure courts to sentence based on capacity, not justice.
"Without genuine accountability, true justice and meaningful reform, reoffending will continue and many more families may face the same devastation we have," the family warned, while remembering Andrew for his "kindness, generosity, humour and love".
