Killer Liam Wright jailed after Sunderland city centre attack led to death of 'happy-go-lucky' Carl Loughran
and live on Freeview channel 276
Liam Wright, 32, punched Carl Loughran to the ground with four blows after a chance meeting in the street led to a brief exchange of words on August 1.
Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Loughran, 36, from Sunderland, hit his head on the ground as he fell and suffered fatal brain injuries.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMr Loughran received treatment at the scene of the attack on Borough Road in Sunderland and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he died two days later.
His brother Ricky Loughran, who lost another sibling in the previous months, said Mr Loughran was a "happy-go-lucky man who was always laughing and would do anything for anyone if they needed help".
Mr Loughran described in an impact statement the heartbreaking moment he said goodbye to his brother in hospital.
He said: "I said my goodbyes to him and kissed him. I told him I loved him.
"I was heartbroken and still am."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMr Loughran added: "Doctors told me on August 3 Carl was brain dead and there was nothing more that they could do for him.
"I allowed doctors to take organs as I know this would be what Carl would have wanted.
"He had a heart of gold and would like to know his death may have saved the life of someone else, even if they were a total stranger."
Prosecutor Christine Egerton told the court the fatal confrontation was caught on CCTV, which was played at the hearing, and showed Wright and two pals approach Mr Loughran in the street.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWright claims during a brief exchange of words, Mr Loughran said something that caused him to have a brief "loss of self control".
Miss Egerton said: "The footage shows the defendant swing a punch, which connected with Mr Loughran's head, causing him to move backwards.
"It is then clear the defendant threw a two punch combination, which again connected and caused him to stumble backwards.
"The defendant continued to move towards Mr Loughran and threw a further punch, which then caused him to fall straight back onto the middle of the road."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe court heard Mr Loughran, who had a fractured skull, bruising around the mouth and two black eyes, had emergency surgery at hospital but was unable to be saved.
Miss Egerton said his death was due to brain injury.
Wright, 32, of Rangoon Road in Sunderland, who has a criminal record, admitted manslaughter.
Judge Penny Moreland jailed him for five years and four months.
The judge told him: "He was a man of 36 with a family who loved him and bear the heartbreak and distress we have heard in court.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Neither your expressions of remorse nor anything I can do or say today can restore him to them."
Glenn Gatland, defending, read a letter Wright had written for the hearing.
In it, Wright expressed "remorse and sorrow" for what he did and said the letter was not to beg for leniency but to say he is "truly sorry".
He said: "By no means did I intend to cause Carl harm, never mind kill him but at the end of the day that's exactly what my reckless, irresponsible actions that day have amounted to.”