Man jailed for 5 years over one punch death in Rutherglen

A man has been jailed for 5 years for causing the death of a man he punched in a Rutherglen bar.

Thomas Allan, 52, from Govan, admitted culpable homicide, after attacking Jason Haig at Harley's Sky Bar on September 2 2019.

The High Court in Glasgow heard he struck Mr Haig with a single punch.

Mr Haig died from severe brain damage.

The court heard that the two men had been playing pool together for about 20 minutes when there appeared to be a disagreement.

Allan approached Mr Haig, while holding his pool cue in his right hand; spoke to him for a few seconds, then struck him on the face once with his left hand.

Mr Haig fell backwards, hitting his head on the hard floor.

David Green, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: “A single punch has had catastrophic consequences.

“This type of attack is just as lethal as an assault with a weapon and any instance of a punch to the head can have the kind of ramifications that we have tragically seen with this case.

“The unintended consequences of Thomas Allan’s actions should serve as a stark warning that one punch can kill.”

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