A grieving mum wants everyone to see the punch that killed her son.
Dean Skillin was just 20 years old when he was killed by just one punch to the head by Brandon Sillence in September 2020, reported North Wales Live.
Deans’ mum Becky said on social media: "Dean couldn’t even see it coming, it killed him instantly because he hit him that hard and forcefully."
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The devastating incident, in which Dean was trying to act as a peacemaker to defuse an altercation between his cousin Taylor Lock and another man outside a pub, was caught on camera.
The CCTV footage shows the moment Dean, 25, was knocked backwards by Sillence in a 'forceful, swinging punch', before assaulting Mr Lock.
Sillence, from Toronnen in Bangor, described in court as a "boxing enthusiast", was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in December 2021. He also admitted assault causing actual bodily harm on Mr Lock in the incident outside the Waverley Hotel on Station Road in Bangor.
Dean's family decided to share the moment Dean was killed as they step up their campaign for tougher sentences for single punch killers. Their petition calling on the UK Government to change the sentencing for one-punch assaults has been signed by more than 17,000 people.
Deans’ mum Becky said on social media her son was trying to prevent a fight from breaking out between his cousin and Sillence, and added: “I wanted to put it out there that when my son was killed there was no fight or words exchanged between Dean and Brandon. You can clearly see by the video that the police have released that Brandon 'Coward' Sillence punched my son from behind.
“Dean couldn’t even see it coming, it killed him instantly because he hit him that hard and forcefully. What sort of coward hits someone from behind and leaves him on the floor, then walks away knowing the damage he had done? How is this not an intentional act of violence to cause harm? To all that defended Brandon by saying it was a pub fight shame on all of you.
“My son and nephew were attacked by this coward, Brandon. As the judge said he was willing to punch his own shadow that night which resulted in my son's death, and affected our family lives forever.”
Sillence was found not guilty of murder. The petition set up by the family of Dean Skillin can be signed here.
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