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Man's schoolboy killer sentenced | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A 16-year-old boy who jointly killed a man as he tried to break up a fight has been sentenced to three years' youth custody. | |
Neil Abrams, 43, was attacked by the boy and Luke Elliott, now 20, after attempting to break up a brawl in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. | Neil Abrams, 43, was attacked by the boy and Luke Elliott, now 20, after attempting to break up a brawl in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. |
The boy, who cannot be named, and Elliott admitted committing manslaughter in August 2007. | |
Elliott was jailed for three-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey. | Elliott was jailed for three-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey. |
Jurors at their earlier trial at Luton Crown Court had heard how the pair kicked and punched Mr Abrams, from Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, who was trying to break up a confrontation between his friends and Elliott's father Simon. | Jurors at their earlier trial at Luton Crown Court had heard how the pair kicked and punched Mr Abrams, from Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, who was trying to break up a confrontation between his friends and Elliott's father Simon. |
'Mindless violence' | 'Mindless violence' |
Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, said the fight took place outside Pizza Plus, Leighton Buzzard, during which Simon Elliott ended up on the ground and may have been knocked out. | Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, said the fight took place outside Pizza Plus, Leighton Buzzard, during which Simon Elliott ended up on the ground and may have been knocked out. |
The court was told that the boy, from Leighton Buzzard, who was 15 at the time, ran to a nearby pub to get Luke Elliott. | |
The pair then ran back to the scene by which time the fight had finished. | The pair then ran back to the scene by which time the fight had finished. |
Mr Abrams was then knocked to the ground in a single blow by the boy and was stamped on and kicked by Elliott, who lived in nearby Heath and Reach. | |
Mr Abrams died three days later in hospital. | Mr Abrams died three days later in hospital. |
Elliott pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second week of his trial | |
Judge Philip Clegg told the Old Bailey: "This was yet another example of drunken violent behaviour by young people in a crowded street." | Judge Philip Clegg told the Old Bailey: "This was yet another example of drunken violent behaviour by young people in a crowded street." |
Referring to Mr Abram's parents' grief, he said: "I can't think of anything worse than being on holiday and hearing that your son is desperately ill, and then going back and watching his life support machine being turned off - then to know it is the result of a senseless, mindless piece of violence." | Referring to Mr Abram's parents' grief, he said: "I can't think of anything worse than being on holiday and hearing that your son is desperately ill, and then going back and watching his life support machine being turned off - then to know it is the result of a senseless, mindless piece of violence." |
In a statement outside the court, Mr Abram's parents Sheila and Alan said: "Words alone cannot describe the enduring sense of devastation, loss and sheer emptiness we feel since his death. | In a statement outside the court, Mr Abram's parents Sheila and Alan said: "Words alone cannot describe the enduring sense of devastation, loss and sheer emptiness we feel since his death. |
"He was loveable, thoughtful and generous and it still seems unbelievable he should be taken from us in such a sudden and senseless way. | "He was loveable, thoughtful and generous and it still seems unbelievable he should be taken from us in such a sudden and senseless way. |
"No sentence will ever be long enough or will bring Neil back." | "No sentence will ever be long enough or will bring Neil back." |
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