Man who killed former footballer from Tunisia jailed
A man who killed a former footballer with a single punch has been jailed for four years.
Atef Jablaoui, 27, from Tunisia, died from brain injuries three days after being attacked outside flats in Marble Arch, central London, in March 2009.
Omar Mouhib, 24, who lived in one of the flats, punched Mr Jablaoui after a petty row over a woman.
Mouhib, who was found guilty of manslaughter, had seemed pleased about the punch, the Old Bailey jury heard.
Mr Jablaoui, who was living in Harrow, north London, had previously played for a regional football team in Tunisia and had a trial for the national side.
'Bit of a swank'
His family were unable to be at court for the sentencing because of the turbulent situation in their country.
But in a victim impact statement, his brother Sabar Jablaoui said what happened had come "like a thunderbolt" to them.
Judge Martyn Zeidman told Mouhib: "The family of the victim will suffer a life sentence of grief."
The judge accepted that Mouhib had not meant to kill, but said that the blow that he had inflicted was not in any sense half-hearted.
"It was a punch described as forceful. Atef's legs buckled," he said.
"After doing that there was a bit of a swank about you, as if you were pleased that you had been able to knock the man out."