A TEESSIDE mayor has backed a petition calling for tougher sentences after a one-punch killer was moved to an open prison.
Antony ‘Anto’ Robinson, 49, was killed by his friend Michael Peter Halliday, 40, in a one-punch attack outside The Roundel pub, Thornaby, in September 2019.
The wealthy offshore boss was jailed for seven years in March 2020 after being found guilty of manslaughter by a jury at Teesside Crown Court .
But two years on, Halliday has been moved to category D Kirklevington Grange – sparking consternation and disgust from Antony’s sister Jane Robinson.
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Thornaby mayor Cllr Steve Walmsley added his voice to those upset during a discussion on crime and policing at Monday night’s town council meeting.
He said: “There have been people asking about a petition for the lad who got killed outside the Roundel.
“The family have got a life sentence – and he’s coming out after two years.
“We’ve got a real problem with these kinds of things.”
High Court Judge Mrs Justice Lambert told the heating engineer that he had shown no remorse, and that Mr Robinson’s death had ripped his family apart.
Cleveland Police welcomed the sentence at the time, saying the defendant had carried out a “mindless act of violence”.
Last month, Antony’s sister Jane Robinson discovered Halliday had been moved to Kirklevington Grange.
She said she’d been told he is now allowed to leave the prison to work, visit his family overnight, and that he may be released in April next year.
Halliday, of Dresser Lane, Linthorpe , Middlesbrough, had denied manslaughter – claiming self defence.
During the five day trial, the jury heard how he punched Mr Robinson outside the pub before getting a Chinese on his way home.
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A petition calling for longer manslaughter sentences following Antony’s killing had gathered 307 signatures as of Wednesday.
After the meeting, Cllr Walmsley said the town council supported it.
He added: “We think for a number of offences sentencing really needs to be looked at.
“A lot of the time the sentence doesn’t fit the crime. ”
Last week, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our heartfelt sympathies remain with Mr Robinson’s family and friends.
“Offenders are only moved to open prisons after a careful risk assessment by the Parole Board.
“They can be moved back to closed conditions at any time if their behaviour is a concern.”
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