Family appalled at killer's two-year sentence

Dec 27 2007 EXCLUSIVE by Liza Williams

ALAN THOMPSON’S seven brothers and sisters used to be the closest of siblings. But, after the care worker’s death in June, as the family was coming to terms with the loss of their mother, they have started to drift apart, unsure of what to say to each other or how to move on.

They hope the anger they and their father feel about the attacker’s two-year sentence will be eased by the prospect of an appeal.

Now a local MP and the family’s solicitor are endeavouring to contest the sentence, either through an appeal or by raising the issue with the Minister for Justice, Jack Straw. The family’s solicitor, Ibralim Nadim, who is based in Birkenhead, says the next step will be to refer the case back to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to see if an appeal is warranted. The CPS would then refer the case to the Attorney General.

Bootle MP Joe Benton said: “I have met with the family and am concerned about the sentence. I have arranged a meeting with the family solicitor and we will go on from there.”

He added that, ultimately, he could refer the case to Mr Straw, calling for an inquiry into the sentence.

Mr Thompson’s long-term partner, Josie Kenny, says the action will mean she and the couple’s two children, Liam, 12, and Emma, 18, can start to heal.

“It has robbed the children of their dad growing up, they are only 12 and 18,” she said.

“Emma is just very quiet, she does not talk about it, but Liam asks a lot of questions.

“I can tell he finds it hard – he does not want to upset me but he wants to know what happened.

“What kind of effect must it have on them – knowing this man is responsible for their dad’s death, but has received such a small punishment. It is a disgrace.”

On the night he was attacked in June, Mr Thompson was at an engagement party with two of his brothers. They went on to a pub before his brothers left, and Mr Thompson went to the Strand Tavern, in Bootle.

As he was walking home to Litherland, a neighbour saw Joseph Dutton get out of a car and punch Mr Thompson once to the left side of the face. He immediately fell against a parked car, then to the ground.

Dutton got back into the car which drove off. It returned a short time later, but moved off again.

Mr Thompson died six days later in hospital.

Dutton pleaded guilty to manslaughter and during his court appearance earlier this month, Jeremy Rawson, defending, said: “He does not seek to blame anybody but himself.

“He is full of remorse and devastated by the events and extends his apologies to the complainant’s family.”

Judge Globe, who presided over the case and issued the sentence, said Dutton’s actions were out of character, but the Thompson family say his apology is of no comfort.

Mr Thompson’s sister, Elaine Reynolds, says the loss is having a negative effect on the family: “People say that sadness like this brings you closer but not when you are already as close as we are.

“It is tearing us apart – we do not know what to say to each other. This isn’t just a death, Alan was taken from us prematurely.

“My dad is distraught, he is not coping at all. When Alan died, he was trying to deal with the loss of my mother. She died on holiday in Portugal and flying her back was an ordeal. Losing both of them is just terrible.

“Even if we do not change this man’s sentence, hopefully we will raise awareness and change things in the future – people cannot get away with mindless violence.”

The family are circulating a petition in shops in the Bootle area and are planning to write to Merseyside’s Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe.

Mrs Reynolds added: “We need as much support as possible, so that the powers that be will sit up and take notice.”

lizawilliams