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Jail for wheelbarrow case killer | Jail for wheelbarrow case killer |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The family of a teenager whose body was dumped in their garden in a wheelbarrow has condemned the sentence given to his killer. | |
John Foxton, 35, from Alloa, was handed six-and-a-half years for kicking Ryan Copeland in the head twice while he was drunk and unable to defend himself. | |
Ryan's mother Veronica had tried in vain to resuscitate her son as he lay in her front garden. | |
Her other son Scott said he had expected Foxton to be jailed for life. | |
During sentencing at the High Court in Kilmarnock, Lord Bracadale called Foxton "callous" and said the impact of the crime on his victim's family had been "profound". | |
Speaking after the court hearing, Scott Copeland said: "The justice system seems so lenient. This guy killed my brother and he has only got six years, and he won't even serve that. | |
It has broken our hearts and my mother has been a different person since Ryan was killed Scott CopelandRyan Copeland's brother | |
"My mother, Veronica, wanted this guy to get life in jail for what he did to Ryan - we all thought it was the least he deserved. | |
"This sentence is no comfort - no jail sentence in enough. Even the judge said what that guy did was a callous thing to do." | |
Ryan was dumped in the Copeland's garden on 22 September 2006 in a wheelbarrow following the attack by Foxton in the town's Lomond Court. | |
At a previous hearing, prosecutor John Scullion described how asthma sufferer Ryan had been friendly with the Foxtons, who lived a few doors from him. | |
Dumped in garden | |
After a night of drinking, an argument had broken out between John Foxton and Ryan. | After a night of drinking, an argument had broken out between John Foxton and Ryan. |
They exchanged punches, then Ryan was put out of the house through the back door. John Foxton then knocked him to the ground and kicked his head twice. | They exchanged punches, then Ryan was put out of the house through the back door. John Foxton then knocked him to the ground and kicked his head twice. |
Following the attack, Foxton's cousin Thomas found the teenager bleeding from facial injuries. | |
He cleared blood from his mouth and put him in the recovery position. | He cleared blood from his mouth and put him in the recovery position. |
Mr Foxton then enlisted his cousin's help to take Ryan home by bundling him into a wheelbarrow. | Mr Foxton then enlisted his cousin's help to take Ryan home by bundling him into a wheelbarrow. |
The court heard that Ryan may already have been dead by this point. | The court heard that Ryan may already have been dead by this point. |
Brain injury | |
Thomas Foxton knocked on the Copelands' door to wake his parents. | Thomas Foxton knocked on the Copelands' door to wake his parents. |
Mrs Copeland gave her son mouth-to-mouth in a bid to save him. | |
A medical examination revealed Ryan had minor bruising but no fractures or brain injury. | A medical examination revealed Ryan had minor bruising but no fractures or brain injury. |
Mr Scullion said: "It is well recognised, however, that death may occur following minor head injury where the brain is sensitised to trauma by acute alcohol intoxication." | Mr Scullion said: "It is well recognised, however, that death may occur following minor head injury where the brain is sensitised to trauma by acute alcohol intoxication." |
The cause of death was put down to "minor head trauma when intoxicated with alcohol and asthma". | The cause of death was put down to "minor head trauma when intoxicated with alcohol and asthma". |
Scott Copeland said Ryan's death was the second time he had lost a sibling after his brother Craig committed suicide in 2001. | |
He said: "My mother has lost two boys now. Words cannot describe the grief our mother is feeling since Ryan's death. | |
"It has broken our hearts and my mother has been a different person since Ryan was killed." |
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