Hitchin man gets suspended term after Euro 2024 killing

Prosecuting barrister Simon Wilshire had told the court the question was whether Jackson hit out in anger or in fear of an “imminent attack”.

He argued that Jackson had thrown a “haymaker of a punch” in anger.

Tana Adkin KC, representing Jackson, told jurors what happened was an accident and “pure self-defence”.

She said Jackson was not the aggressor and had not thrown a “haymaker”.

Mr Wallendorf’s wife, Victoria, told the hearing they had been separated.

But, in a victim impact statement, she said the consequences of his death had been “catastrophic”.

“It was the most difficult day of my life,” she added.

“His loss has left a big void.”

Mr Wallendorf’s mother, Sally, told the judge in a victim impact statement that she had gone through a “tragic, senseless nightmare”.

The judge said he did not think that Jackson was a danger to the public.

He also said he had considered the problem of prison overcrowding when deciding to impose a suspended sentence.

Det Ch Insp Nick Gardner, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said the “whole incident” was tragic.

“It is a silly argument in the car park and it ultimately led to someone losing their life for a decision,” he said.