Chilling CCTV footage captured the moment a man calmly returned to a Sainsbury's supermarket to carry out a fatal attack on a father, following a dispute over queue jumping. Demiesh Williams, 30, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for the manslaughter of 43-year-old Andrew Clark.
The Fatal Confrontation
The court heard that the tragic incident unfolded at a Sainsbury's store in Beckenham, southeast London. Andrew Clark, described as a hard-working family man, had challenged Williams after he attempted to cut in line at the tills. Following the initial argument, Williams left the store and went to his car.
However, as seen on surveillance video, he then made the decision to return to the supermarket. Williams approached Mr Clark, who was leaving with his wife, and struck him on the side of the head with an open hand. The force of the blow caused Mr Clark to fall to the ground, where his head struck the floor with a sickening crack.
A Family's Devastating Loss
Andrew Clark was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness. He was declared brain dead and died three days later from a catastrophic brain injury. In heartfelt statements read to Woolwich Crown Court, his family spoke of their unimaginable grief.
His 14-year-old daughter said, via her aunt: "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." Judge Andrew Lees acknowledged the profound loss, stating Mr Clark was "much loved, much respected, and will be much missed."
Justice Served
Demiesh Williams, a father-of-three from Croydon, was arrested shortly after the attack. He initially denied murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. During sentencing, Judge Lees emphasised the devastating consequences of Williams's actions.
Williams was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment. He will serve up to two-thirds of that term in custody before being released on licence. The judge warned that any breach of his licence conditions would result in him being recalled to prison.
The case serves as a horrifying reminder of how a momentary flash of violence, stemming from a trivial public disagreement, can irrevocably shatter lives.
