Demiesh Williams struck ‘hard-working’ dad Andrew Clark after being challenged over queue jumping, and was told by the victim’s daughter ‘you destroyed my family in the cruellest way’
A killer who fatally struck a ‘hard-working family man’ in a row over queue-jumping has been jailed for five years. Demiesh Williams, 30 had calmly walked back into the supermarket where the argument had taken place before assaulting dad Andrew Clark, who died from his injuries.
Mr Clark, 43, was out with his wife buying food for the following day after watching his football team, Newcastle United, win the Carabao Cup back in March. A court heard that Mr Clark had challenged Williams after the defendant tried to queue jump at the tills.
Williams then left the supermarket and went to a car, but then decided to confront Mr Clark – with chilling CCTV footage showing him strolling back into the store.
Wearing a face covering, he slapped Mr Clark with an open hand, knocking his victim out cold as he hit the ground without breaking his fall. A witness heard a ‘crack’ as Mr Clark’s head hit the floor, before Williams said: “I told you to f****** apologise.”
Mr Clark, from Beckenham in south east London, died of his injuries three days later, after being declared brain dead, reports the Daily Mail.
Dad-of-three Williams, 30, was arrested at a house in Croydon, and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On Thursday morning was sentenced to five years and three months in jail by Woolwich Crown Court.
Judge Andrew Lees told Williams he would serve two thirds of sentence before being released on licence. In a statement previously read to the court, Mr Clark’s 14-year-old daughter told Williams he had “destroyed” her family in the “cruellest way possible”.
Her aunt read her statement to the court, saying: “My dad was not just my dad. He was my best friend. We did everything together.”
Addressing the killer, the statement continued: “You did this to my dad. My dad was the most generous man I know. I don’t want to live my life without him. You got to keep your family, while you destroyed mine in the cruellest way.”
Mr Clark’s wife Cairistine also read her impact statement in court, asking the killer: ‘What type of man choses to kill rather than simply walking away? You are a coward. You are a killer. You are a monster.”
After Williams was jailed, Mr Clark’s family released a statement saying the sentence “exposed serious shortcomings within our outdated justice system”.
The statement read: “Today’s sentence brings some degree of closure after an unimaginably painful nine months for our family.
“Andrew’s loss has had a profound impact on each of us and we continue to live with the consequences of his absence every day.
“For us as a family this prosecution has exposed serious shortcomings within our outdated justice system. Victims are too often left without the protection, transparency and fairness they deserve.
“An archaic legal framework cannot meet the demands of modern society nor the needs of victims, their families, friends and wider communities. Over-crowded and underfunded prisons place pressure on courts to sentence based on capacity rather than justice.
“Without genuine accountability, true justice and meaningful reform, reoffending will continue and many more families may face the same devastation we have.
“Andrew will always be remembered for his kindness, generosity, humour and love.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.