One of the nine heartbroken children of manslaughter victim Shane Boxall has spoken of how her world “just stopped spinning” and that his death caused “unbearable pain” to his family.
The brutal killing had a “lasting effect on everybody” and had caused “utter grief” to his loved ones, also including nine grandchildren.
Kailum Nightingale, of Poplar Grove, off Lorraine Street, Hull, and Kieran Nightingale, of Vermont Crescent, off Beverley Road, Hull, both denied murdering Mr Boxall on April 25. They were cleared of murder after the jury deliberated for just under four hours. The 26-year-old brothers were convicted of manslaughter following a trial in December.
Kailum Nightingale was jailed for 10 years – because he lashed out with the fatal punch – and Kieran Nightingale was locked up nine years.
Laurie Sutcliffe, 29, the eldest child of Mr Boxall, told Hull Crown Court in a statement, on behalf of the family, that she read to the court that she had always looked out for her father. She said that the twins had been warned during the confrontation about Mr Boxall’s condition but one of them chose to punch him to the head.
It disgusted her that the last voices that he would have heard would have been those of the twins after they “violated” his safe space. “My dad was too young to die and too young to plan his own funeral,” she said.
“My dad avoided confrontation and arguments as he knew he was in no position to defend himself.” She said of his death: “My world just stopped spinning. My life has never been the same since.”
His family watched Mr Boxall deteriorate for three days and they had “false hope” when his legs and arms spasmed but this was because of a brain malfunction. His life support system was turned off.
Ms Sutcliffe said that pictures of Kailum Nightingale showed him smiling and looking as though he was proud of what he did.
“My dad’s death has had a lasting effect on everybody,” she said. She felt “utter grief” that her father could not be protected from the twins.
“It hurts me so much that I will never get to see him again,” said Ms Sutcliffe. His death had caused “unbearable pain” to her and his other children.
“Never in a million years did I think his life would be stolen from us,” she said. “I truly believed he was indestructible.” Mr Boxall would never stop being her inspiration.
“I hope Kailum and Kieran know exactly what they took from us that day because he was irreplaceable,” said Ms Sutcliffe. “What he did not deserve was to be brutally taken from us.”
Mr Boxall did not deserve to be “scared and in pain” and that the faces of the twins would be the last that he would see.
“You will never be able to take our memories because we will cherish them forever,” said Ms Sutcliffe. “You took a loving and caring man from his children.”
The family could not hold a funeral for more than three months. She told the twins: “I will never forgive you for what you have done. In his final hours, he should have spent them with us. I will never forgive you.”
Kieran Nightingale, left, and Kailan Nightingale have been jailed for the manslaughter of Shane Boxall
(Image: Humberside Police)
During the trial, the prosecution claimed that the twins, Kailum Nightingale and Kieran Nightingale, went to Mr Boxall’s flat before 6am and banged at his door. Mr Boxall “served them” through the letterbox and walked back to his bedroom.
But there was further banging and the shouting from outside about the twins supposedly being short-changed. The brothers forced their way in.
Kailum Nightingale shouted: “Just give me my money or give my stuff.” Kailum Nightingale became “enraged” and headbutted and kicked Mr Boxall’s bedroom door. Two women there warned the brothers that Mr Boxall was particularly vulnerable because of having part of his skull removed.
The twins were said to have “gone for” Mr Boxall and were shouting and screaming at him. One of the women repeated that Mr Boxall had “only half a head”.
Kailum Nightingale was said to have replied: “I don’t care. I will kill him.” He punched Mr Boxall on the right side of his head. Mr Boxall fell to the floor and started to have fits.
Mr Boxall was treated by paramedics at the scene and he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary. He was having ongoing seizures and a CT scan revealed bleeding on the brain. He was transferred to intensive care but his life support was later withdrawn and he died at 6.18pm on April 27. The prosecution claimed that the punch inflicted by Kailum Nightingale killed him.
One of the women who was at Mr Boxall’s home told the police in a video interview that was played to the court that the “whole door just went in” when the brothers forced their way in.
“They were stood on top of him saying ‘I’m going to kill you’,” she claimed. The woman, 19 at the time, was the girlfriend of Mr Boxall’s son and she had lived there for about eight months at the time.
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She said that the men were warned about Mr Boxall’s condition but the reply was: “I don’t care. I will kill him.” She claimed: “They have gone straight to him, shouting and screaming at him.”
Kailum Nightingale punched Mr Boxall once. She said that she got in between them and shouted: “Just leave him, just leave him.”
She told police: “There was a lot of shouting. It was kicking off.” The brothers were warned: “Watch his head.” The other brother did not punch Mr Boxall. “He just came to back his friend,” she said.
The woman said of Mr Boxall: “He was fitting, then he started being sick and things like that.” The two men did not take any items, money or drugs, as far as she knew.
Mr Boxall was taken away on a stretcher by paramedics and the only sign of any injuries seemed to be a bit of blood on his hand.