Parents want justice for son's tragic death

Andrew's parents, Christine and Andy, continue to fight for justice; Andrew before the attack in 2003

A heartbroken family is continuing its fight for justice eight years after a fatal blow to the head cruelly took the life of a “happy-go-lucky” teenager.

Andrew Jones, 18, was enjoying a night out in Liverpool on 9th March, 2003 when he was attacked. The night was brought to a halt when a man punched Andrew so hard that it broke his jaw, knocking him to the pavement and leaving him with a broken skull.

Andrew, of Cherry Lane, Walton, died the following day in hospital, having never regained consciousness. Despite eight years passing by, but no one has been convicted for his death.

His frustrated parents, Andy and Christine Jones, have spoken of their need for justice for their son and their hope to highlight the fatal effects that a punch can have. Following Andrew’s death the family began to campaign for justice by writing to MPs and the Prime Minister.

Andy, 48, said: “Andrew’s death has had the most devastating
effect on us. My wife and I are still on anti-depressants and
sleeping tablets.

“The day after Andrew’s funeral, my wife attempted to take her
own life. It has had a massive strain on our marriage. I am
myself still receiving counselling, even after eight years we
are still struggling to come to terms with it.”

In 2008, the Jones family stepped up their fight for justice by
joining nationwide group Families Fighting for Justice. Mr
Jones said the group helped their campaign become stronger.

The family also recently set up a petition to appeal to the British
government to introduce ‘Andrew’s law’. The family believe the
introduction of this law will allow the police and the Crown
Prosecution Service to prosecute more perpetrators.

Mr Jones said he would remember his son as a “happy-go-lucky type of person”, who loved Everton Football Club. He added: “Maybe if we get some kind of justice we will be able to put some kind of normality back in our lives.”

Merseyside Police have recently launched a campaign called ‘One Punch Can Kill’, which they hope will raise awareness about how just one punch can have devastating consequences, something which is clearly evident in Andrew’s death.

Andrew died after a single punch