Family of Hull one punch victim calls for tougher sentencing
Carl Fullard was killed by one punch last September.
The family of a Hull man who was killed by one punch has started a petition for harsher sentencing to act as a deterrent.
Carl Fullard was killed on 9 September 2023 after being punched in the head outside a pub in Hull by John Blanshard.
Blanshard has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Carl's Niece, Amy Leigh Esders said: "The petition is not just going to help us, it's going to help future families because it's going to happen again. They don't get long in prison for it - they take someone's life and they're out in a few years' time.
"Six years and eight months for killing a man is absolutely nothing."
Amy Leigh said her mother now rarely leaves the house after her experience, and the whole family avoids the area where Carl died.
She said: "People don't understand the effects of it. I was actually at the hospital with a friend when he was in there on his own, and he died alone because his family wasn't there.
"Just think about what you're doing and walk away, because you don't understand the effects of it. You expect people in your family to die of illnesses, not for them to walking down the street, punched in the back of the head and that's it, they're gone."
Carl is one of six men who have been killed by a single punch in the space of two years. Another of those men was Scott Akester, who was killed in November 2022.
Since his death, parents Debbie and Steve have been campaigning for greater awareness around one punch deaths, going into schools, workplaces and pubs to share their story.
Debbie said: "We're able to share the impact it has on us as a family - you can see on the kids' faces that having that honest discussion with them is hitting home."
Steve said "Carl's death is disheartening, but it just makes even more determined to get out there and push our message out even further."
"It's another senseless death, he's got six and a half years - the sentencing isn't strong enough"
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Carl Fullard.
“While sentencing remains a matter for the independent judiciary, our reforms will ensure that the most serious offenders spend longer behind bars.”
Amy Leigh said: "He always had a cheeky grin and was a very dedicated family man. You could always guarantee he was there for you when you needed him. He was a lovable rogue, he's our Carl and he'll always be our Carl."