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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gang get life for '£5 bet' murder | Gang get life for '£5 bet' murder |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A man and two youths who kicked a disabled man to death over a £5 bet have been jailed for life. | A man and two youths who kicked a disabled man to death over a £5 bet have been jailed for life. |
| Brent Martin, 23, who had learning difficulties, died in hospital after he was found in a pool of blood on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate. | Brent Martin, 23, who had learning difficulties, died in hospital after he was found in a pool of blood on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate. |
| William Hughes, 22, and Marcus Miller, 16, had admitted the murder but Stephen Bonallie, 17, had denied the charge. | William Hughes, 22, and Marcus Miller, 16, had admitted the murder but Stephen Bonallie, 17, had denied the charge. |
| The judge at Newcastle Crown Court ruled they must serve minimum terms of between 15 and 22 years. | The judge at Newcastle Crown Court ruled they must serve minimum terms of between 15 and 22 years. |
| Head injuries | Head injuries |
| The three, all trained boxers from Sunderland, repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted their victim over a £5 bet to see who could knock him out first. | The three, all trained boxers from Sunderland, repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted their victim over a £5 bet to see who could knock him out first. |
| They chased him around the Town End Farm estate just three months after he was released from a psychiatric hospital where he had been staying due to his learning difficulties, the court heard. | They chased him around the Town End Farm estate just three months after he was released from a psychiatric hospital where he had been staying due to his learning difficulties, the court heard. |
| Finally he was stripped of his trousers and pants and left dying next to a parked car in Baxter Road, Town End Farm, as his attackers posed for photographs. | Finally he was stripped of his trousers and pants and left dying next to a parked car in Baxter Road, Town End Farm, as his attackers posed for photographs. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Martin died from a massive head injury and had suffered at least 18 separate blows to the head and neck. | A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Martin died from a massive head injury and had suffered at least 18 separate blows to the head and neck. |
| 'Gentle person' | 'Gentle person' |
| Hughes, from Washington Road, must serve a minimum of 22 years, Bonallie, from Birtley Avenue, 18 years, and Miller, from Baxter Road, must serve at least 15. | Hughes, from Washington Road, must serve a minimum of 22 years, Bonallie, from Birtley Avenue, 18 years, and Miller, from Baxter Road, must serve at least 15. |
| Mr Martin was punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted | |
| Judge John Milford described the attack as "sadistic conduct on an extremely vulnerable victim". | Judge John Milford described the attack as "sadistic conduct on an extremely vulnerable victim". |
| He said: "I would hope the minimum terms imposed upon young offenders are sufficiently long to spell out to young people the consequences of committing murder. | He said: "I would hope the minimum terms imposed upon young offenders are sufficiently long to spell out to young people the consequences of committing murder. |
| "If I am wrong, then perhaps the 12-year starting point for those under 18 needs to be looked at again by Parliament when the murder is, as in this case, particularly serious." | "If I am wrong, then perhaps the 12-year starting point for those under 18 needs to be looked at again by Parliament when the murder is, as in this case, particularly serious." |
| Judge Milford also said their victim has been a "gentle and caring person" who had a long history of mental health problems. | Judge Milford also said their victim has been a "gentle and caring person" who had a long history of mental health problems. |