The sister of a murdered Bradford man is to write to his killer to ask: "Why did you do it?"
Craig Goulding is serving a life sentence after he admitted murdering 34-year-old David Hill during a street brawl.
But Mr Hill's sister Carole Mathers said she still wanted to know why he beat her brother to death.
"I want to know what kind of a man it is who can kick another man to death," she said.
"We never knew why he did it or really understood what happened. I want to know why he did it. Not knowing makes it worse. I am just interested in what excuse he gives for doing what he did."
Mr Hill, of Yorkshire Way, Great Horton, died two days after he was found badly injured in a street in Chorley, Lancashire, where he had been visiting his girlfriend Michelle Parker in April.
Goulding, 36, of Mackenzie Close, Chorley, was due to stand trial on the murder charge but changed his plea to guilty when he appeared at Preston Crown Court earlier this month.
Mrs Mathers, 41, of Hudson Avenue, Little Horton, said her family therefore missed the opportunity to see Goulding in court before he was jailed.
"We were not expecting Goulding to plead guilty. We wanted to see what kind of person could do this to David.
"He was kicked to death and it was a total shock when we visited him in hospital. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw. I have to let David's killer know he killed a person who did not deserve it.
"When David was drunk he was a very unhappy, sad man but when he was off the beer he was lovely and everyone liked him."
Mr Hill's mother, June Hill, 76, keeps her son's ashes in the living room of her Bradford home, where David lived most of his life.
"David was a lovely lad. He would help anyone. He always reminded me to take my tablets for my heart and no-one could say anything against him," she said.
"I could never ever forgive his killer.
"David went out and said, 'I will see you later, mam', and he never came back.
"He seemed to have an insight. He had started saying 'mum when I am not here you will not forget me' and he had left a letter for his girlfriend Michelle and told me to give it to her if anything ever happened to him.
"I wake up two or three times a night expecting to see him on the airbed in the living room where he slept.
"I love him and I miss him."
In a story about Mr Hill's murder published in the Telegraph & Argus on October 3, we stated in good faith that Maxine Fox was Mr Hill's girlfriend. Ms Fox has now confirmed that her relationship with Mr Hill broke up approximately six years before his death. We are happy to clarify the situation.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article