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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Youths get life for river murder | Youths get life for river murder |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Two teenagers convicted of murdering a student who was beaten and thrown into a river have been given life sentences. | Two teenagers convicted of murdering a student who was beaten and thrown into a river have been given life sentences. |
| Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington, from Bedford, were convicted of the murder of Robert Gill, 17, who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford. | Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington, from Bedford, were convicted of the murder of Robert Gill, 17, who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford. |
| Downes, 19, of Acacia Road, was told he would serve a minimum of 17 years and Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, must serve 18 years. Both had denied murder. | Downes, 19, of Acacia Road, was told he would serve a minimum of 17 years and Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, must serve 18 years. Both had denied murder. |
| A youth was given four-and-a-half years for manslaughter at Luton Crown Court. | A youth was given four-and-a-half years for manslaughter at Luton Crown Court. |
| Robert Gill had been on a night out with his brother two days before Christmas 2007. | Robert Gill had been on a night out with his brother two days before Christmas 2007. |
| His attackers stole his wallet and beat him like a punchbag, the court was told. | His attackers stole his wallet and beat him like a punchbag, the court was told. |
| 'Plied with drink' | 'Plied with drink' |
| Sentencing, Judge John Bevan QC criticised the youngsters' families and the pubs and clubs which served them drinks. | Sentencing, Judge John Bevan QC criticised the youngsters' families and the pubs and clubs which served them drinks. |
| He said: "There was at least half-an-hour of robbery, false imprisonment, bullying, punching, humiliating and terrifying a drunk, naive, harmless, non-aggressive, 17-year-old student who soiled himself in fear towards the end of the ordeal. | He said: "There was at least half-an-hour of robbery, false imprisonment, bullying, punching, humiliating and terrifying a drunk, naive, harmless, non-aggressive, 17-year-old student who soiled himself in fear towards the end of the ordeal. |
| "There are elements here of parental responsibility, or the lack of it, and also the responsibility of the clubs and pubs in Bedford - in particular the Bricklayers Arms, Midas and New York New York. | |
| Parents forgive son's killers | |
| "If premises like that put financial gain ahead of the appalling damage they do to youngsters, in particular Robert Gill, they should have a feeling of shame about the events of Boxing Day in Bedford. | "If premises like that put financial gain ahead of the appalling damage they do to youngsters, in particular Robert Gill, they should have a feeling of shame about the events of Boxing Day in Bedford. |
| "The parents and grandparents, according to Luddington and Downes, also plied them with drink and they must have known that those two were liable to be aggressive in drink." | "The parents and grandparents, according to Luddington and Downes, also plied them with drink and they must have known that those two were liable to be aggressive in drink." |
| Downes and Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment. | Downes and Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment. |
| The youth, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named, was also convicted of robbery and false imprisonment. | The youth, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named, was also convicted of robbery and false imprisonment. |
| Police divers recovered Robert's body eight days later. | Police divers recovered Robert's body eight days later. |
| Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the three had behaved like "predators, picking on their prey". | Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the three had behaved like "predators, picking on their prey". |
| They subjected their victim to a savage attack, punching and kicking him before he went into the water, the court had heard. | They subjected their victim to a savage attack, punching and kicking him before he went into the water, the court had heard. |
| Robert's parents, Fred and Fran Gill, of Wilstead in Bedfordshire, said their son was "a wonderful lad" who was missed "by all his family and friends, particularly by his brother Duncan". | Robert's parents, Fred and Fran Gill, of Wilstead in Bedfordshire, said their son was "a wonderful lad" who was missed "by all his family and friends, particularly by his brother Duncan". |