A London recruitment consultant has been sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter after punching a friend who threw his shoe out of a taxi window. Alexander Thomson, 33, from Clapham, fatally struck Thomas Hulme, 23, in an Uber car on 26 August last year following what the judge described as 'trivial, friendly horseplay'.
The court heard that Thomson had been drinking heavily and took cocaine before the incident. After Hulme threw Thomson's shoe out of the window on a dare, Thomson leaned forward from his seat behind the victim and punched him in the head. The blow, described as 'relatively modest', caused a brain haemorrhage. Hulme initially appeared fine but collapsed on the pavement after stepping out of the car and died in hospital the following day.
Judge Anthony Bate noted that the case differed from unprovoked street violence, calling it an 'isolated misuse of force whilst disinhibited by drink'. Thomson, who had three previous convictions for alcohol-related violence, broke down in court as details were read. His defence lawyer described the death as 'the unluckiest blow' resulting from 'tomfoolery'.
In a victim impact statement, Hulme's father Gary said the family's lives were 'submerged in sadness and sorrow'. His sister Lucy added: 'I've lost my big brother who I looked up to and adored. My life now has a huge void.' Thomson's family wept as he was led from the court.
