A review of the way criminals who kill with a single punch are sentenced has been ordered by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, after the four-year prison sentence of one of them was deemed "not unduly lenient".
Mr Grayling stepped in after the Court of Appeal upheld Lewis Gill's manslaughter sentence for hitting an Asperger's sufferer in an unprovoked attack.
Andrew Young, 40, died after being punched once by Gill in Bournemouth on November 6 last year.
The Court Of Appeal said Lewis Gill's sentence was 'not unduly lenient'
His sentence, imposed in February at Salisbury Crown Court, was referred to the Appeal Court by Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who argued that it was not a proper reflection of the gravity of the offence.
But three judges in London decided there should not be any change to the four years being served by Gill, 21, of Sutton in south London, who had admitted manslaughter.
Mr Grayling said that he had now asked the Sentencing Council to consider whether "further guidance" was needed for judges in handling such cases.
"I want to ensure that everyone can have full confidence in the sentencing of these crimes, which is why I am asking the Sentencing Council to look at whether further guidance is necessary," he told The Daily Telegraph.
The incident happened outside a Tesco Metro store in Charminster Road after the victim had challenged a cyclist who was riding his bike on the pavement.
Graphic design student Gill, described as a "powerfully built young man" who had previously trained as a boxer, punched Mr Young in the face, causing him to fall backwards, hitting his head.
He suffered a fractured skull and died the next day in Southampton Hospital.
Lord Justice Treacy, announcing the decision of the court, said: "We have concluded that the sentence imposed below is not one which can be described as unduly lenient.
"Indeed, it seems to us that the sentence imposed was one within the reasonable range available to the trial judge, properly weighing the relevant factors and the guidance of this court."
In February, Gill was given a further six months - three for handling stolen goods and another three for committing an offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence.
Lord Justice Treacy said: "We readily understand that this is the sort of case that arouses public concern.
"If there are public concerns going beyond this case then it may well be appropriate for the wider issue to be the subject of detailed consideration and consultation by the Sentencing Council in the future.
"It is open to the Secretary of State for Justice or other interested bodies to invite the Sentencing Council to do so."
During the hearing, Mr Grieve outlined a number of "aggravating factors" in the case.
He said the victim was vulnerable because he suffered from Asperger's syndrome, telling the court: "It is accepted that the offender had no means of knowing the detail of the victim's condition, but it was clear from the victim's unusual behaviour, as seen on the CCTV, that he was vulnerable."
The punch was delivered with deliberation in a place where a "great many" members of the public were present.
Mitigating factors included a guilty plea at an early stage, the expression of remorse, Gill's relatively young age, and the fact that the offence was not planned or premeditated.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Grieve said: "This was a case of gratuitous, unprovoked violence.
"It was broad daylight when Lewis Gill delivered a very deliberate, forceful and vicious punch.
"I asked the Court of Appeal to look again at this sentence as I believed it was unduly lenient.
"They have taken the view that the four-year sentence imposed on Lewis Gill should not be increased and I accept their decision entirely."
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Andrew Young's mother Pamela Young said: "In this country people can get away with anything, not through the police, but through the courts.
"My sympathies are with the police who do a brilliant job. The police have done their duty but the judicial system hasn’t. The judicial system is a soft touch.
"I didn’t think it was justice for Andrew at the time but it’s now gone to the highest court in the land. If the highest court says that’s OK then I respect that.
"It’s best not to have any revenge. If you have revenge in your mind the only person you will hurt is yourself."