Fury over 'pathetic' sentence (From Dudley News)

Fury over 'pathetic' sentence

1:02pm Wednesday 5th November 2008

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The heartbroken family of a Rowley Regis teenager killed when he was punched to the ground by a blow described as "ferocious" have slammed the 34 month jail sentence passed on his "evil" attacker.

Richard Blakeway was on his way home after drinking with friends in Chaplins pub, Dudley Road, when he was killed by 19-year-old Michael Cameron of The Shrubbery, Eve Hill.

Cameron, who was on bail at the time after an affray committed just four days earlier, sent his 19-year-old victim reeling with a single punch - he fell backwards and his skull fractured as his head hit the ground.

Judge John Warner sentenced Cameron at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (Wednesday) on the basis he didn't intend to cause serious harm.

After the case Richard's sister Cheryl Blakeway said: "The sentence passed by the Judge is pathetic.

"It is absolutely shocking. This man was involved in two cases of violence in just four days - 34 months isn't justice.

"We were obviously expecting a far more severe jail term because this man took a treasured life."

His cousin Sarah Blakeway said it sent the message "his life was absolutely worthless."

Cameron admitted manslaughter and the earlier affray.

Anesta Weekes QC prosecuting said Richard, of Royal Oak Road, had made an innocuous remark to a woman which had led to him becoming involved in a scuffle with a friend of Camerons. The scuffle was over when Cameron came out of the pub and hit Richard.

Miss Weekes said Cameron was heard to say: "Did you see it. A one punch KO."

In a victim impact statement read to the court Cheryl said Richard was "full of zest with a sense of fun."

She said: "The family simply does not feel complete without him.

"What kind of person is so evil they can take the life of another human being."

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