[UK] Man with Asperger's killed with a single punch

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Let's see, if he didn't have AS, he would have ignored the cyclist and kept on going his business. Gotcha.

If that were me, I would have ignored it too because I am afraid of conflicts and I am too nervous to even speak up so I wouldn't have ended up getting punched either. Either that guy was brave or he had no awareness of what could happen like I do and maybe he has no issue with conflicts and isn't afraid to speak up but he never thought how violent some people can be. It's like how it's never a good idea to tease drivers on the road and to not let them pass because they could try and run you off the road or take out a gun and shoot at you. So it's best to ignore them and let them pass and let them break traffic laws than play the police and not return any gestures to them or even look at them. It's even in the DMV manual too. This could be a lesson to all aspies about telling strangers about things they shouldn't be doing.

Of course I do, I've only been living with the condition for 25 years. All the people on the autistic spectrum that I know are very introverted, aloof, and can barely make eye contact with people. Never mind them talking to strangers. Perhaps some can interact well within a circle of friends but I've never know any in my life that would talk normally to strangers excessively. I know I never could.

I run an Aspie meetup with over 600 members, of which I've personally met around 200 or so, many of whom are difficult to get to stop talking. You have to remember that AS affects people very differently, and we're not at all easy to stereotype, nor are we well served by perpetuating stereotypes.

I agree with Dox, being afraid to speak to strangers sounds more like social anxiety. Although I can be quiet, I don't have a problem approaching strangers and at times have annoyed people by speaking far too much.

Had I been a guard at his prison and the other inmates beat the living hell out of him , I'd ignore it and pretend I didn't see nothing.........serves him right

As sad as this is....without intent to kill, I don't see how it can be considered murder. What would have to be determined is if the man had the intention of killing, not defending the whole punching the guy in the face but typically when someone punches someone in the face i don't think their thought process is 'I am going to kill that person'. So yeah not sure I'd agree that a murder charge is appropriate...also without any audio its hard to determine what exactly was said and why it bothered a passerby so much they decided to react violently.

That said a four year sentence seems a little bit light....perhaps a harsher sentence was in order.

It's not that I don't believe you, just don't accuse me of not knowing people on the spectrum, that's all.

I think it has to do with intent. Most people who hit someone, don't intend to kill them. They intend to hurt them, but not kill them. If they don't intend to kill the person, then it is manslaughter, not murder.

Making manslaughter the same as murder, and assault the same as attempted murder, would it dramatically increase the prison sentences of people who accidentally killed someone, or who just get in a fight with someone. Under that system, if two guys got in a barroom fight, they would both have to be charged with attempted murder. That is not a good idea in my opinion. We already have too many people in prison.

Although, I do think the penalties for attempted murder should be closer to those of murder. If some guy shoots another guy, and he survives, it's attempted murder. But if the guy dies, it's murder. That makes no sense to me. Thats just a lighter sentence for incompetence. What are they trying to do, give the guy a shorter sentence so he can get out and try again?

This entire thing just shows how quickly things can spiral out of control, and a simple bike code violation turned in to manslaughter.

1. The Asperger's guy should have minded his own business. He was not a cop. That was a bad decision that cost him his life.

2. The bike guy should have just ignored the Asperger's guy and rode around him.

3. The third guy should have also minded his own business. Instead he chose to get involved in what he thought (correctly or incorrectly) was a racial dispute. For that he ended up killing a guy, for which he will spend years in prison.

It just shows what can happen when three idiots meet up at the same place and same time in history.

If he lets him pass, if not, he may have gotten aggressive with the guy.

We will never know. It doesn't look like he was trying very hard to get around him. Actually it looks like he wanted to argue with him. Then the other guy got involved, and it ended tragically.

Of course I know that if I punch a guy on a street chances are he'll hit the street when he falls & most likely with his head first if he stands directly in front of me , c'mon stop making excuses for this punk.......he was a grown man for goodness sake , not some clueless little kid

Also he could've just ignored the fella and not punched him , he was a coward plain and simple.

Another example :

"It was Parkers fault that Elvis died !"

Again , not really the full truth.......he was a 42 yr old man , not a little kid who didn't know better , did people expect his buddies/strong men (the Wests , Esposito etc) to have to babysit a grown man , get real. Was it Parkers fault he had a bad diet ?

He could've told Parker to take a hike and gotten a new manager , alas he did not.

You don't need intent to be charged with murder (or any crime). You need to be aware that an act can cause death or serious harm, and that you did it.

Just those two.

Everyone should know that a punch to the head can cause serious harm or a lethal injury.

"Manslaughter
The unjustifiable, inexcusable, and intentional killing of a human being without deliberation, premeditation, and malice. The unlawful killing of a human being without any deliberation, which may be involuntary, in the commission of a lawful act without due caution and circumspection.

Manslaughter is a distinct crime and is not considered a lesser degree of murder. The essential distinction between the two offenses is that malice aforethought must be present for murder, whereas it must be absent for manslaughter. Manslaughter is not as serious a crime as murder. On the other hand, it is not a justifiable or excusable killing for which little or no punishment is imposed."

Manslaughter

"Manslaughter
The unjustifiable, inexcusable, and intentional killing of a human being without deliberation, premeditation, and malice. The unlawful killing of a human being without any deliberation, which may be involuntary, in the commission of a lawful act without due caution and circumspection.

Manslaughter is a distinct crime and is not considered a lesser degree of murder. The essential distinction between the two offenses is that malice aforethought must be present for murder, whereas it must be absent for manslaughter. Manslaughter is not as serious a crime as murder. On the other hand, it is not a justifiable or excusable killing for which little or no punishment is imposed."

Manslaughter

In order to be charged with murder, there has to be intent.