HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn has backed a family's fight to increase a killer's jail sentence.
The Darlington MP met the family of Paul Simpson, who died when he was punched in the street and fell and hit his head on a kerb.
Mr Simpson's attacker, Alfred Welch, admitted in court that the assault was the result of a drunken game.
He was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to manslaughter, but the family have said that is too lenient.
They have been granted leave by the Attorney General to appeal against the sentence.
A spokeswoman for Mr Milburn said: "He supports the family and believes that justice has not been done.
"He is pleased that they have been granted an appeal and has asked to be kept informed of developments."
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