A man has been jailed after being found guilty of killing his friend with a single punch.
Richard Mee and Stephen Paylor were arguing in Market Street, Heanor on the afternoon of 27 October 2021.
Paylor punched 48-year-old Mr Mee and he fell to the ground. He was taken to hospital, where he died two days later.
Following a two-week long trial at Derby Crown Court, Paylor was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury.
The 48-year-old, of High Street, Heanor, has today been jailed for four years.
Detective Chief Inspector Greg McGill said: “While Stephen Paylor never meant to kill his friend – his recklessness has devastated Richard Mee’s family.
“Cases like this clearly show that any level of force, even just one punch, can have fatal consequences.
“While no sentence will bring Richard back, I hope that today gives his family some closure on what has been a tragic chapter in their lives.”
