A bus driver has been jailed for 18 months for killing an asylum seeker who fled his home country after being beaten by the Taliban.

Alexander Briant, 21, drunkenly shoved the 22-year-old Afghani in the chest for 'smirking' at his girlfriend during a night out in Southampton.

Seventeen-stone Briant, of Farmers Close, Witney, caused Mohammed Isa Hasan Ali, who weighed eight stone, to topple over and crack his head on the pavement, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Mr Ali was knocked unconscious. When he came to, he thought he was unhurt and went home.

Winchester Crown Court heard the victim's housemates found him dead in his bed the next morning.

Nicholas Haggan, prosecuting, said Briant had drunk at least 10 pints of lager during birthday celebrations with friends.

He said he left the Walkabout pub and started arguing with his girlfriend, Sarah James.

Briant took his aggression out on Mr Ali who was leaning against a lamppost outside the Nationwide Building Society minding his own business.

Mr Haggan said: "She (Miss James) said she thinks she saw the deceased appear to smirk at her. The defendant said 'what are you looking at' or words to that effect.

"The defendant stepped forward and pushed the deceased in the chest with the flat of both his hands quite firmly."

As Mr Ali thought he was unhurt, police, who had arrived on the scene, let everyone go home in the early hours of February 9, 2003, believing no offence had been committed.

A post mortem found he died as a result of a blow to the back of the head, which caused a fracture to the skull. In defence, Antony Chinn QC said the attack was not race related.

Judge Michael Brodrick told Briant: "This was a tragedy for Mr Ali who was minding his own business and lost his life because of your actions."