A killer has been jailed for six years after a stranger he assaulted in Sandwell died of his injuries.
Jagdev Lally was found by a passer-by with a serious head injury in an alleyway near Tollgate shopping center at around 9 am on 14 April last year and was rushed to hospital with a bleed on the brain.
Our investigations showed that the 38-year-old, who is believed to have been homeless at the time, had been attacked at around 3 am by another homeless man, Ashley Pace.
Mr. Lally had laid down with some bedding next to a woman and it is believed that when her partner, Pace, saw Mr. Lally next to her, he flew into a rage and kicked and punched him.
Mr. Lally suffered serious head and facial injuries and sadly died in hospital on Friday 1 May.
CCTV captured the assault just off Smethwick High Street and Pace was charged with murder.
Before a trial, Pace offered a guilty plea to manslaughter which was accepted and on Tuesday (23 February) he was jailed for six years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Mr. Lally’s family have previously paid tribute to him saying: “Jagdev was a loving father, son, and brother.
“He was the sole provider for his parents in India, who are now totally lost without him.
“They, his son or sisters will never see him again.
“To be taken at such a young age is difficult enough, but for it to be under such tragic circumstances is heart-breaking.”
Detective Inspector Jackie Nicholson, from Force CID, said: “It is simply tragic that such a vicious and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable man has resulted in Mr Lally being lost to his family forever.
“We hope his family can find some solace in beginning to understand what happened that night, and also take some comfort in the knowledge that Mr Lally’s attacker is now behind bars.”