Killer escapes jail

A BERWICK man who killed his best friend with a punch will not spend any time in jail after he was given a fully suspended sentence in the Supreme Court on Monday.
Dan Henry Leatham, 20, was found guilty of the manslaughter of his close friend, Benjamin Francis, after the two had been drinking alcohol and playing cards in September 2004.
Mr Francis had been walking home when he fell and hit his head on the road after Leatham punched him in the face.
Mr Francis fractured his skull in the fall and later died in hospital.
Leatham pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced by Justice Bernard Bongiorno to three years in jail with a minimum of two years.
But Justice Bongiorno fully suspended Leatham’s sentence for three years.