A man has been jailed for four years and two months for the manslaughter of a former Regimental Sergeant Major following a petty argument over chicken wings in a pub beer garden. Liam Slack, 34, admitted killing Paul Ainscough, 57, who died two days after the incident at the Stag pub in Leyland, Lancashire, on 22 June 2024.
Preston Crown Court heard that Ainscough, who served 24 years in the British Army and later as a police officer, had bought chicken wings for himself and Slack. After eating his own, Slack attempted to grab Ainscough's wings and then shoved him backwards onto a stone floor and wooden fence, causing multiple rib fractures.
Ainscough was found dead at his home in Chorley on 24 June by his family. His son discovered messages on his phone in which Ainscough described the attack, leading to an investigation. A postmortem confirmed blunt force trauma to the chest as the cause of death.
Slack was arrested on 27 June and initially charged with assault, later upgraded to manslaughter. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Monday. He must serve at least two-thirds of his term before being considered for parole.
Detective Inspector Marc Armstrong of Lancashire Police said: 'Liam Slack was responsible for Paul’s death and he is now starting a sentence of imprisonment. This has been a traumatic time for Paul’s family.' In a victim impact statement, Ainscough's son Mark described his father as a hero who served his country with courage and honour.
