Former doorman jailed for killing man with single punch in Nottingham city centre
A FORMER doorman who killed a 36-year-old man with a single punch has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Liam Rockley, 21, of Lower Kirklington Road, Southwell, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday.
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Liam Rockley
He was arrested after the death of Robert Holland, of Sidcup, Kent, who was found collapsed in Lower Parliament Street in the early hours of Friday, October 28.
The court heard that on the night of October 27, Rockley and Mr Holland had been drinking in separate parts of the city centre.
It wasn't until Rockley saw Mr Holland and his friends involved in what he thought was an argument that the two groups met.
Despite being told by friends "not to get into any trouble", Rockley approached the group outside Lloyds TSB in Lower Parliament Street and bear-hugged Mr Holland, who fought back until Rockley punched him in the face.
Mr Holland fell to the ground and a post-mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of injuries sustained from a single punch to the head.
When told by his friend later that day that Mr Holland had been "in a bad way", Rockley contacted police and handed himself in at St Ann's police station.
Robert Egbuna, mitigating, told the court that Rockley's reaction when he found out what had happened to Mr Holland was to "break down in tears".
He said his client was devastated by his actions.
Judge John Milmo QC told Rockley: "Despite being warned not to get into any trouble, it was you who started the violence.
"This was yet another example of public violence on the streets where the people involved had taken alcohol."
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Holland's family said they were "deeply unhappy" about the sentence, which was too short.
In a statement they said: "Robert was a wonderful husband, son, brother and uncle.
"Liam Rockley has with one punch on that fateful morning completely devastated and destroyed an entire family.
"Robert was a very loving and family orientated person who can never be replaced. He will also be sorely missed by extended family, a wide circle of friends and business associates.
"We do not know how or if we will ever come to terms with what has happened, and as a family we will never get over this terrible loss.
"His wife Alev feels like her whole world and entire future has gone. His sister Karen and brother Ben have lost their best friend, and Karen's young children, aged ten and three, are having extreme difficulty understanding why their wonderful uncle is no longer around.
"And his mother Therese could not have had a more loving son and was extremely proud of him."
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Meynell said: "One punch can ultimately cost a life.
"Liam Rockley may not have intended to kill Robert, but the recklessness of his actions has left his victim's family grieving the loss of a loved one."
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by theresa961
Friday, March 16 2012, 8:42PM
“Perhaps letitbexoxo Liam thug should have thought before he punched my son and threatened to thump him and his mate then he would not be in prison where I hope he meets his match because if I had my way he would rot in there for killing my son!!! He's nothing BUT an animal and I hope his family are proud of him!!!! Roberts mother.”
by letitbexoxo
Sunday, March 11 2012, 9:27AM
“liam was devestated when he heard the man had died, he went to one of his closest friends who told him to go straight to the police and hand himself in and within the hour he did. i think that mr hollands family should not upset themselves by re reading these posts and let their son r.i.p”
by Giggs84
Friday, February 24 2012, 1:48PM
“As adults you learn to take responsibility for your actions and take the punishment that comes with them!
No, he didnt mean to take his life but by acting as he did, he did just that. Its sad for all concerned but people need to learn that one punch is all it takes to ruin a whole family.
I agree its a light sentance for taking a life but regardless of what a 'nice fella' he is, he HAS taken a life.
My heart goes out to the victims family, may you get the justice you deserve! x”
by A46RED
Friday, February 24 2012, 8:28AM
“HucknallRed,
Really?! Ive not placed negative comments on the bloody dog thread! Every other poster on their agreed with me haha! Stop scraping the barrel as you know you have no valid basis to come at me on. Next it will be you said Luke Chambers was **** on a Forest thread, you cyber bully.
Please save yourself the embarrassment and trot on. You're just dragging this thread down now with your vendetta against me as you dont agree with some of the stuff i've posted.”
by whatever2012
Thursday, February 23 2012, 6:53PM
“i agree this thread should be pulled down! public forums are no place for this.all its ever going to result in is arguing and offensive behaviour.
good luck with the petition. i agree the law needs to change to make people think more about the dangers of just one punch. maybe not a petition against liam but something to generate awareness about one punch can kill. i know notthingham are going to put up posters etc, there's to many Jonny concretes who've when they've had a drink find it acceptable to be violent.
i know for alot of us and liams friends ive spoken to "theyll think twice about getting into altercations when out"”
by shush10uk
Thursday, February 23 2012, 6:09PM
“1 punch Ronnie got 10 years for doing the exact same crime! Why does this lad only get 3 and half?”
by dancer57
Thursday, February 23 2012, 4:45PM
“please dont shut this thread down.......................people should be allowed to talk or argue the points of this case and many others. Perhaps if we talk about it long enough,tge powers that be will take notice of all of us and realise that we as Roberts family need all of this publicity to get the sentencing guidelines changed.Let everyone get everyone they know to comment on this case.......the more people on this thread the better for me...Robs auntie ty x”
by Car1876
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:38PM
“Please close this thread down. There is too much negativity from both sides. Can some of u not just keep your opinions to yourselves. there is a grieving family that r reading these comments that need to grieve, how dare any one of u tell Roberts mother is shut up, she has a right like all of us to comment on this thread but some remarks are better unsaid. There is also a family missing their son because he's in prison for his crimes. Liam maybe a nice man but on that night I would say he wasn't. Robert had the rest of his life to live but was taken away from his family far too soon, these sentences need to be tough, if you do the crime u do the time BUT if these sentences were tougher then maybe these criminals would think twice before committing such offences.case closed.”
by A46RED
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:31PM
“If it was my son or brother i wouldn't be posting on a news article as emotion would get the better of me and i wouldn't be posting rational arguments or reasons to what i was saying.
Smith1980, If you're saying i cant trot out the 'same old stuff' then you have to apply that to both sides of the story. What closure are they getting from posting on the NEP website? If i'm being honest your opinion on what i am saying doesn't really bother me.
If they want closure, then i'd stop posting stuff that people are going to come on and contest. Yes it might be true in their eyes, but everyone's opinion differs”
by Smith1980
Thursday, February 23 2012, 2:10PM
“You are a pillock because you consider it appropriate and more important for you to keep trotting out the same old stuff about your associate than to let family of the deceased man to have some closure.
You've said your bit, you've nothing else to add so why not just shut up.”