Thug who killed driver, 67, with one punch in petty parking row before trying to flee country is jailed
A THUG who killed a driver with one punch in a petty parking row has been jailed for five years.
Abdelaziz Maaroufi, 26, attacked 67-year-old Peter Marecheau as he backed away on an industrial estate in Alperton, North West London.
The killer punched the pensioner in the jaw -sending him crashing to the ground where he suffered a devastating head injury.
Peter sadly couldn't be saved and died three days later in hospital from a blunt force head injury.
Maaroufi has now been jailed for five-and-a-half years after he was convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder.
Harrow Crown Court heard how the horror unfolded on September 9 last year.
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Peter, known to friends as Frankie, would often park his Peugeot outside a unit on the industrial estate, with an agreement the business owner would beep his horn if he needed him to move.
On that day, the owner beeped three times - causing Spanish national Maaroufi to storm over and confront Peter.
CCTV showed Peter desperately trying to back away as he was repeatedly shoved by the thug.
At no point did he pose any risk to Maaroufi before he was punched to the ground.
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After the brutal attack, the killer, who had been in the UK for less than a year, went to his old boss and asked for money so he could leave the country.
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley of the Met's Specialist Crime Command led the investigation and said: "This sentencing brings to a conclusion a tragic case - Maaroufi has never explained why he decided to involve himself in this incident and why he resorted to this extreme level of violence.
"Peter's family have not had all the answers that we hoped to get for them but I hope they can take some solace in the fact that Maaroufi has been convicted and jailed for his actions."
Detective Inspector Louise Caveen of the Met's Specialist Crime Command added: "We don't know what made Maaroufi involve himself in the argument or why he resorted to extreme violence.
"Violence is never the right option, no matter what the disagreement, and anyone who allows their temper free reign in this way risks finding themselves in the same position as the defendant.
"My thoughts are very much with Peter's family today. I hope that they can find a small measure of solace in knowing that Abdelaziz Maaroufi will face the consequences of his actions."
