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29/03/2011
'Single Punch' Killer Jailed For 18 Months
Relatives of a Cookstown man who died after he was punched in the head have spoken of their "shock and disbelief" that the man convicted of killing him will serve just a year-and-a-half behind bars.
Anthony James Bey, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Leslie Parks as his trial was due to start.
The victim, Mr Parkes, 20, from Cookstown, was knocked down by the single punch and fractured his skull. He was taken to hospital but died nine days later.
The killer, Bey must also serve a further 18 months on licence after he is released.
But, outside Omagh Crown Court, Mr Parkes' family said they were shocked by the sentence.
They are still reeling after Mr Parks died after the assault outside a night club in September 2009.
The pain has now increased many times over as Mr Parkes' distraught mother Heather and sister Samantha spoke of their outrage over the sentence.
"We're in shock and disbelief that he only got 18 months for manslaughter," they said.
"We don't feel that justice has been done. He was my only son. He just made you laugh, we miss him and it's just been 20 months of pure hell."
She added that while the family are glad the court case has now ended and that it had provided some closure, the pain of losing Leslie would "never be over for us".
(BMcC/GK)
Anthony James Bey, 21, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Leslie Parks as his trial was due to start.
The victim, Mr Parkes, 20, from Cookstown, was knocked down by the single punch and fractured his skull. He was taken to hospital but died nine days later.
The killer, Bey must also serve a further 18 months on licence after he is released.
But, outside Omagh Crown Court, Mr Parkes' family said they were shocked by the sentence.
They are still reeling after Mr Parks died after the assault outside a night club in September 2009.
The pain has now increased many times over as Mr Parkes' distraught mother Heather and sister Samantha spoke of their outrage over the sentence.
"We're in shock and disbelief that he only got 18 months for manslaughter," they said.
"We don't feel that justice has been done. He was my only son. He just made you laugh, we miss him and it's just been 20 months of pure hell."
She added that while the family are glad the court case has now ended and that it had provided some closure, the pain of losing Leslie would "never be over for us".
(BMcC/GK)
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