Soldier's Mother In "Despair" After Son's Single-Punch Death

Image courtesy: SWNS

The mother of a British soldier who died from a single punch following a row over a spilled drink says the "pain will always be part of us".

Yvonne Henchliffe, 49, said she had been left in despair following the "mindless punch" which killed her son Chris Henchliffe, 26, while on a night out with friends.

Chris, who served in Afghanistan with the Yorkshire Regiment, suffered a head injury following the altercation on July 3 last year. 

He fell 'heavily' to the floor and suffered a catastrophic head injury, the court heard.

The father-of-one fell into a coma and died in hospital nine days later after the attack outside the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield.

Benjamin Edwards, 22, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for killing him.

Edwards denied manslaughter but was jailed following a six-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

Ms Henchliffe said: "My family has been left in pain and despair because of a mindless punch which killed my beautiful son.

"The pain will always be a part of us - but we will learn to live with it.

"My family will not be destroyed by this.

"Benjamin Edwards has taken away my boy - nothing can be forgiven for that."

Ms Henchliffe plans to hold charity events to raise money for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where Mr Henchliffe died.