20 years on - justice catches up with Coke can killer who felled Leeds postman with a single punch

20 years on - justice catches up with Coke can killer who felled Leeds postman with a single punch

20 years on - justice catches up with Coke can killer who felled Leeds postman with a single punch

A MAN was jailed today for killing a Leeds postman with a single punch during a row at a taxi rank about a dropped can of Coke - 20 years earlier.

Anthony McDonnell, 45, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to manslaughter over the death of Andrew Batten in October 1995.

Andrew Batten

McDonnell evaded justice for two decades before finally handing himself in to police following a renewed police appeal for information on the 20th anniversary of Mr Batten’s death.

Leeds Crown Court heard Mr Batten, who lived in Beeston, was waiting at a taxi rank on Vicar Lane in Leeds city centre when he challenged McDonnell for dropping a can of Coca Cola as he stood with his girlfriend.

McDonnell struck Mr Batten a single blow to the face. He fell backwards and struck his head on the ground, causing a fractured skull. McDonnell then said ‘come on let’s run’ before fleeing the scene with his partner.

A witness gave chase but abandoned the pursuit after McDonnell stopped and adopted a “threatening stance.”

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