The 25-year-old victim, from Bentilee, was pronounced dead at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
But the case sparked outrage after it emerged that Staffordshire Police took 19 minutes to reach the incident which resulted in Christopher's death and Ben's imprisonment.
Petition organiser Tony Dyer went to school with dad-of-two Ben and was a customer at the New Road Garage, in Longton, where he worked.
He said: “I’ve known Ben since he was 14 and you could never wish to meet a nicer lad. He’s not aggressive at all."
Christopher Walters
Tony says the case has shaken his faith in the criminal justice system.