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Thirty years for teenage murders Thirty years for teenage murders
(10 minutes later)
A man has been jailed for at least 30 years for the murders of two teenagers in County Armagh nine years ago.A man has been jailed for at least 30 years for the murders of two teenagers in County Armagh nine years ago.
28-year-old Steven Leslie Brown, also known as Steven Revels, murdered teenagers David McIlwaine and Andrew Robb in February 2000. 28-year-old Steven Leslie Brown, also known as Steven Revels, murdered David McIlwaine, 18, and Andrew Robb, 19, in February 2000.
On Friday, the judge said they "ranked amongst the most gruesome murders of the past 40 years in Northern Ireland".On Friday, the judge said they "ranked amongst the most gruesome murders of the past 40 years in Northern Ireland".
Outside court, the father of David McIlwaine said he believed other people were involved in the death of his son.Outside court, the father of David McIlwaine said he believed other people were involved in the death of his son.
He added that he had asked for a meeting with Steven Brown. Paul McIlwaine added that he had asked for a meeting with Steven Brown.
When Brown was convicted last month, the judge, Mr Justice Gillen, said that having watched him give evidence, he had "no doubt whatsoever" that he had seen a man "whose hands had been engaged in the executions of these two young victims". "I have requested to visit him in prison," said Mr McIlwaine.
"I want him to sit down, if he is willing, and talk to me about the involvement of everybody else."
The judge, Mr Justice Gillen, said the murders were "cold-blooded and barbaric".
He told Brown: "The post-mortems on the bodies of these two teenagers bear silent testimony to the sadistic manner in which you and your accomplice brought about their deaths.
"These crimes were so horrendous that they offered no insight into human nature or the recurring pattern of human behaviour.
"Civilised reason can furnish no explanation for them. They represent unbridled mindless violence and total disregard for the value and dignity of human life."
'Horrific injuries''Horrific injuries'
Much of the evidence in the trial came from Mark Burcombe, who was present when the teenagers were killed.Much of the evidence in the trial came from Mark Burcombe, who was present when the teenagers were killed.
Burcombe, from Ballynahinch Road in Lisburn, was initially charged with the murders, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after agreeing to give evidence against Brown.Burcombe, from Ballynahinch Road in Lisburn, was initially charged with the murders, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after agreeing to give evidence against Brown.
He was jailed in 2008 for two-and-a-half-years.He was jailed in 2008 for two-and-a-half-years.
The murder trial heard that Andrew Robb, 19, and David McIlwaine, 18, were drinking with Brown, Burcombe and Noel Dillon, who has since killed himself. The murder trial heard that Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine were drinking with Brown, Burcombe and Noel Dillon, who has since killed himself.
Andrew Robb is said to have made disparaging remarks about Richard Jameson, the alleged UVF commander, gunned down by the LVF two weeks previously.Andrew Robb is said to have made disparaging remarks about Richard Jameson, the alleged UVF commander, gunned down by the LVF two weeks previously.
A Crown lawyer said Brown "took unkindly" to the remarks, and drove the group to an isolated country road outside Tandragee where the friends were repeatedly stabbed, suffering horrific injuries to their throats and stomachs.A Crown lawyer said Brown "took unkindly" to the remarks, and drove the group to an isolated country road outside Tandragee where the friends were repeatedly stabbed, suffering horrific injuries to their throats and stomachs.
Giving evidence to the court, Burcombe claimed he saw Brown repeatedly stab David McIlwaine as he lay on the ground and, that afterwards, Brown threatened that if he told anyone, he would cut Burcombe's throat.Giving evidence to the court, Burcombe claimed he saw Brown repeatedly stab David McIlwaine as he lay on the ground and, that afterwards, Brown threatened that if he told anyone, he would cut Burcombe's throat.
Burcombe admitted he had not told the police the whole truth when he first came forward in November 2005, after the murders were featured in the BBC's Crimewatch programme, but denied he was lying to cover up his own role.Burcombe admitted he had not told the police the whole truth when he first came forward in November 2005, after the murders were featured in the BBC's Crimewatch programme, but denied he was lying to cover up his own role.
He also denied suggestions by Brown's defence that he made up his testimony at the behest of the UVF in order to frame Brown.He also denied suggestions by Brown's defence that he made up his testimony at the behest of the UVF in order to frame Brown.
The prosecution case against Brown also included a "confession" to a woman known only as witness F, and forensic evidence showing that two tyre tread marks at the scene of the murders matched two tyres on Brown's Peugeot 205 car.The prosecution case against Brown also included a "confession" to a woman known only as witness F, and forensic evidence showing that two tyre tread marks at the scene of the murders matched two tyres on Brown's Peugeot 205 car.
It was also said that pieces of green plastic found at the scene matched the top of an aerosol canister found outside Brown's house; and Brown's DNA was found on David McIlwaine's jacket.It was also said that pieces of green plastic found at the scene matched the top of an aerosol canister found outside Brown's house; and Brown's DNA was found on David McIlwaine's jacket.
Neither teenager was connected to any paramilitary group.Neither teenager was connected to any paramilitary group.