Student, 25, is jailed for five years for killing his friend in alcohol-fuelled attack before he was caught in Germany trying to flee to China

Yongqi Liang , 25, from Shanghai, launched into a vicious attack with fellow Chinese student Xiangyu Li after the pair spent the night drinking together

A student who killed his friend in a booze-fuelled attack and then tried to flee to China has been jailed for five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Yongqi Liang, 25, from Shanghai, launched into a vicious attack with fellow Chinese student Xiangyu Li after the pair spent the night drinking together.

Liang set on Xiangyu and caused significant bruises to his head, neck and chest in the violent attack in Sheffield city centre on March 24 this year.

CCTV footage showed Liang instigate a fight before dragging his victim to the floor and then repeatedly punch him.

As the attack continued, Liang delivered a blow to Xiangyu's head which caused him to fall to the floor.

Liang then spent around eight minutes attempting chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation before fleeing the scene.

Tragically, Xiangyu never regained consciousness and he was later found dead in Union Street in the city.

Liang tried to return to China the morning after the fight and had boarded a flight to Frankfurt in Germany.

But he was met by cops when he landed and arrested on suspicion of murder.

Today Liang pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Court.

Xiangyu, originally from Ji Lin City, was a former student at The University of Sheffield and had most recently been studying at The University of Kent.

CCTV footage showed Liang dragging his victim to the floor and then repeatedly punch him, including once in the head. He then spent around eight minutes attempting to resuscitate Mr Li before fleeing the scene

In the early hours of Tuesday, March 24, CCTV officers at Sheffield Town Hall were alerted to a person laid out on the pavement on Union Street.

A security guard was sent to the location, with two police officers arriving at the same time.

There they found Xiangyu with significant bruises to his head, neck and chest, consistent with a violent attack.

Despite the best efforts of officers and paramedics, he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Officers retrieved extensive CCTV footage, which captured the attack in its entirety.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Oughton, from South Yorkshire Police, said: 'The footage showed Liang instigate a fight, which escalated dramatically.

Following the attack on Union St, Liang tried to flee to China but was caught in Germany and arrested by police. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for five years

'Liang dragged his fellow student to the floor, punching him violently.

'As the assault continued, Liang delivered a blow to Xiangyu's head, he fell to the floor and never regained consciousness.

'The defendant could be seen spending around eight minutes attempting chest compressions, and mouth to mouth resuscitation, before leaving the scene.'

Statements from friends of the pair claimed that they had all been drinking heavily in the hours leading up to the fight.

DCI Oughton added: 'The morning after the incident, Liang made plans to leave the country.

'He got a taxi to Terminal One at Manchester Airport and in an effort to flee to China, booked and boarded a flight to Frankfurt.

'Unfortunately for Liang, officers were waiting for him in Germany and he was arrested under a European Arrest Warrant.

'He was later returned to Doncaster where he was charged with murder.

'I cannot put into words how difficult this has been for Xiangyu's family to come to terms with.

'Their son came to study in the UK, full of hope and excitement, he'd made friends here and had a life here.

'Receiving contact from our officers was incredibly tough for them. My thoughts remain with them today.

'This is an extremely sad loss of a young life. Xiangyu was a fit, healthy young man who loved sport and music. His life was taken away in a violent incident, by someone he thought was his friend.'

In his sentencing remarks, The Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson QC described the case as a tragedy in 'every dimension'.

DCI Oughton added: 'I would have to agree with these comments, there is a great deal of sadness at the heart of this case.

'It was an attack fuelled by alcohol and was a wholly unnecessary and tragic end to a young man's life.'