A four-and-a-half-year jail sentence handed to a thug who killed a man with a single punch could be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Andrew Young, 40, died after being struck by 20-year-old Lewis Gill, of Ridge Road, Sutton, on November 6 last year, in a vicious assault caught on CCTV.

Your Local Guardian: Mr Young, who had Asperger's Syndrome, is left lying in the road while Gill walks away

The Attorney General's Office has confirmed it is considering whether to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal for being unduly lenient after receiving complaints.

Only one complaint is required to trigger the process.

The Attorney General has until March 21 to decide whether to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal.

CCTV images of the assault were shown to the sentencing judge at Salisbury Crown Court last Friday.


Warning: this CCTV footage contains graphic scenes of a violent incident

They show Asperger's sufferer Mr Young challenging cyclist Victor Ibitoye who was riding his bike on the pavement in Charminster Road, Bournemouth.

Your Local Guardian: Victim Andrew Young

Mr Ibitoye was walking next to Gill's ex-girlfriend, Wendy Cagua-Rodriguez, while the defendant walked behind.

He threw a single punch, connecting with Mr Young's temple, after hearing the victim say to Mr Ibitoye: "Why don't you go back to the jungle?"

Mr Young (pictured above) collapsed onto the road behind him and died the next day, November 7, at Southampton General Hospital.

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, of Dorset Police's major crime team, said: " This was a violent attack on an innocent man, which had a tragic outcome.

''This case shows that violence does not resolve anything and can have far-reaching consequences not imagined at the time.

''The court has issued a sentence deemed appropriate and in accordance with the evidence put to them.

''Criminal behaviour such as this will not be tolerated and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice.''

Your Local Guardian: Man who killed Andrew Gill with a single punch sentenced to four years in prison

Gill (pictured above) was sentenced to four years for manslaughter, and two three-month prison terms for run consecutively for committing the offence while on a suspended sentence and for handling stolen goods.

Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove, whose husband Garry was killed by a gang vandalising his car, said: "I'm appalled by this disgraceful act of violence - my thoughts go out to the victim's family and friends at this time.

"It's entirely right that the sentence will be reviewed for this shocking crime.

"I know how traumatic it is to go through the courts as a victim - when you are already so hurt and vulnerable.

“That's why I urge everyone involved in this case to put victims first in the pursuit of justice."


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