Crime Solicitors

An altercation about cycling on the pavement led to the death of a man as a result of being punched. His assailant was eventually given a jail sentence of four and a half years for manslaughter.

Lewis Gill, aged 20, struck Andrew Young, aged 40, moments after Young had argued with Gill’s friend Victor Ibotoye, who was cycling on the pavement. Young told Ibotoye that riding a bike on the pavement was dangerous, and as Ibotoye moved on past him Gill landed a blow and struck Young in the face, knocking him backwards so that he hit his head on the surface of the road.

CCTV footage of the scene shows what happened and although bystanders immediately went to help Young, and he was rushed to hospital, he died from his head injuries the following day. At Salisbury Crown Court Gill pleaded guilty to manslaughter, having claimed in court that he thought Young might pull a knife or a gun from his pocket and also that the victim had made a racist remark.

Asperger’s syndrome

The post-mortem examination found that Young did not sustain any injuries consistent with trying to defend himself. He had Asperger’s syndrome, and his social skills were equivalent to those of a 14-year old, although he could also speak several languages. His mother, Pamela, was shocked at the sentence, describing it as an “absolute joke” and saying it was evident from the CCTV footage that Andrew Young did not cause harm to Lewis Gill. In addition to the sentence for manslaughter, Gill will serve two consecutive prison terms, each for three months, because he was on a suspended sentence for robbery and handling stolen goods when he committed the crime.

Court of Appeal

Criminal lawyers know that one complaint about the level of sentencing can be enough to trigger a referral to the Court of Appeal. The Attorney General’s office has confirmed that it has received complaints about the leniency of the sentence and is considering a referral – the decision will be made by 21st March 2014.

It is all too easy for an argument or disagreement to spiral into something much more serious if even one party becomes angry during the altercation. Criminal offences come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and if faced with a criminal charge it’s important to get professional help quickly from a trustworthy source. If there has been an incident that might lead to future criminal charges, it makes sense to get advice early on about your rights and how to protect them.

The criminal solicitors at Duncan Lewis are available on an emergency basis 24-hours per day, year round. Experienced in both minor and serious cases, members of the crime team are police station representatives that are available and ready to represent clients from the very start of an investigation. With sound knowledge of the criminal justice system and expertise in assembling documentation and evidence, as well as appointing expert witnesses, the firm has a wholly justified reputation for high-quality crime work, and can advise on appeals against sentence or conviction.