Cancer sufferer dies after vicious assault by park yob while walking his dog
Luke Kirby had four years left to live before assault left him bed ridden and dead in six months
A BRAIN tumour victim died months after a teenager he asked to be quiet attacked him, a court heard.
Luke Kirby was walking his dog in a park when he told thug Daniel Bennett, 18, who was singing loudly after a party, to “shut up”.
The yob, who had a history of violence, responded by punching Luke to the ground, knocking out two front teeth.
Luke, 28, who was given ten years to live at 23, went downhill after the attack and died six months later.
His condition meant he could not take painkillers.
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He was anxious about leaving his flat and finished up bed-ridden.
Bennett, of Bristol, admitted causing GBH and was sentenced to two years’ custody.
Judge Michael Longman said the attack “plainly had an effect” as Luke’s condition deteriorated.
He told Bennett: “You are not to blame for his death. But you did nothing to improve his final weeks and months.”
Luke’s mum Jane, 52, said outside Bristol crown court: “He was very ill. He couldn’t walk well, he shuffled. What happened made his last six months of life worse.
“He suffered so much. He didn’t deserve it.”