Two identical twins have been jailed after they were convicted of the brutal manslaughter of “much loved” and “idolised” father-of-nine Shane Boxall in his own home.
The brothers confronted him after they were allegedly “ripped off” by him when they went to his home to buy drugs. They posted £150 through the letterbox but did not receive any drugs.
One of the 26-year-old brothers punched Mr Boxall – who also had nine grandchildren – in the head after they forced their way into his home in a bid to get their money back.
The other twin encouraged his brother in using violence despite them being warned that half of Mr Boxall’s skull had been removed during a previous operation, Hull Crown Court heard.
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 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.
Both were wearing white long-sleeved shirts and dark ties in court. They showed no emotion but nodded to supporters in the public gallery as they were led out of the secure dock to be taken down to the cells.
Mr Boxall, 44, lived in Alaska Street, east Hull. In 2020, he had an operation to remove half of his skull on the right side and so he was especially vulnerable. He was seemingly involved in drugs supply at the time.
Shane Boxall died aged 44, days after the incident in Alaska Street, Hull
(Image: Humberside Police)
Judge John Thackray KC told the brothers: “You were both intoxicated and knocked on the door and asked for some drugs. You paid £150 for the drugs through the letterbox and the deceased failed to hand over the drugs.
“At this point, you both became aggressive. You both kicked the exterior door, causing damage. You were demanding your money back and threatening that, otherwise, there was going to be trouble.
“The door was answered and you were told to go away. Instead, you entered the flat. The deceased called 999 and barricaded himself in his bedroom.
“One of you headbutted the door with such force that it caused damage. Kailum kicked the door a number of times, causing it to break and give way.”
The twins were warned several times by a woman that Mr Boxall only had “half a head”. “I am sure those warnings were given and that you heard them,” said Judge Thackray.
“Despite the warnings, Kailum punched the deceased, who was cowering in the far corner of his bedroom, to his head. This caused the deceased to begin fitting and, ultimately, killed him.
“The consequences of your actions have been profound and are never-ending. He did not deserve to die, die such a violent and terrifying death, and his death is as tragic and unnecessary as that of anybody who is killed.
“Shane Boxall was much loved, indeed idolised by his siblings, children and grandchildren, who will never recover from his loss. No sentence I can impose can undo the damage you have done or lessen the pain to the loved ones of Shane Boxall.”
Neither of the twins gave evidence in their defence during the trial.
Both of them had previous convictions and each had been sent to a young offenders’ institution for one year for offences of affray and possessing an offensive weapon in 2016.
Kailum Nightingale’s offences also included burglary in 2012, breaching an antisocial behaviour order in 2013, using threatening words or behaviour in 2015, attempted theft and criminal damage.
He was jailed for 24 weeks in 2020 for assault causing actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker and breaching a suspended sentence. He was also jailed for 12 weeks in May 2022 for failing to provide a specimen.
Kieran Nightingale also had convictions for affray, possessing an offensive weapon, burglary, interfering with a vehicle and using threatening words or behaviour.
Peter Makepeace KC, representing Kailum Nightingale, said that the incident was not planned or premeditated. The twin had a family of his own and there was another side to his character that showed a “completely contrary side” to that seen in the trial.
He had behaved well while in custody on remand and he now had the time to reflect on his situation and how he could avoid any future such behaviour.
Katherine Goddard KC, representing Kieran Nightingale, said that the defendant had kept out of trouble for about eight years before this incident. This coincided with the birth of the elder of his two children, now aged eight. He had spent 258 days in custody on remand.
The prosecution claimed that the twins 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”.
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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 a seizure.
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.
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.