THE family of a man who died after being punched outside a pub have hit out at the sentence given to his killer.
This afternoon at the Old Bailey Judge David Paget QC sentenced 29-year-old Ryan Saunders to two years in jail for delivering the punch that led to his death.
The victim's mum, Caroline Wright, who gave a victim impact statement to the judge outlining how her son's death had affected their lives, said after the sentencing: “I think it is too lenient because he will be out in two years, so he is laughing.
“But my Gary is dead. And my mother couldn't cope with it all and died days before his funeral.”
Ricci Pietroni, 47, a friend of Mr Saywell's, who was in the pub the night he was attacked, said: "He was not looking for trouble. All he wanted was to have a quiet drink.
"To say we were shocked when the judge read out the sentence out is an understatement. It is a total injustice and I'm gutted."
He added: "We still keep expecting him to walk through the door."
Fellow pub regular and friend Mick Hurley, 48, who was also at the sentencing, said: "I'm devastated at the sentence.
"We used to go on holiday together and he was such a good guy. We really miss him."
Sentencing, Judge Paget QC said: “The fall is more likely to have caused the fatal damage than the punch, so I will deal with you on that basis – a single punch resulting in someone's death.”
He continued: “You are not a stranger to violence. You are 29 with two relevant convictions. On both occasions, drink played a part.”
He told Saunders full credit was given for entering an early guilty plea.
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