The family of Andrew Clark have expressed outrage after the man responsible for his death was sentenced to just over five years in prison, branding the punishment a “disgrace”.
Andrew Clark, 43, died in hospital three days after being assaulted outside a Sainsbury’s store on Upper Elmers End Road in Beckenham at around 8.30pm on 16 March. The fatal incident followed a confrontation after a man attempted to push in front of Andrew and his wife in the checkout queue.
The attacker, Demeish Williams, 30, became aggressive when Andrew challenged him. After a brief argument inside the shop, Williams returned to his car to retrieve a facemask, waited outside for Andrew to leave, and struck him once to the side of the head with an open palm, shouting: “I told you to f***ing apologise.”
Andrew collapsed following the blow and later died from his injuries.
Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, 18 December, to five years and three months in prison. Judge Andrew Lees told Williams the incident “should never have happened”.
Under sentencing rules, Williams is expected to serve up to two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release, meaning he could be freed as early as September 2028 after accounting for time already spent on remand.
The sentence sparked visible anger in court, with one family member saying “this country is a joke” and another calling the punishment a “disgrace”.
In a statement released afterward, Andrew’s family said:
“Today’s sentence brings some degree of closure after an unimaginably painful nine months. Andrew’s loss has devastated our family and changed our lives forever.
“Andrew was killed in an unprovoked act of violence. The sentence handed down does not reflect the gravity of the crime or the life that was taken.”
Andrew’s death has renewed calls from campaigners and victim advocates for tougher sentencing in cases involving fatal single-blow assaults.
