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Two men guilty of student murders Two men guilty of student murders
(10 minutes later)
Two men have been found guilty of murdering two French students in a bedsit in south-east London.Two men have been found guilty of murdering two French students in a bedsit in south-east London.
Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds after being tied up during the attack in New Cross in June 2008.Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, suffered hundreds of stab wounds after being tied up during the attack in New Cross in June 2008.
Dano Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, had denied murder.Dano Sonnex, 23, of Peckham, south London, and Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, had denied murder.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw has apologised to the families over blunders which left Sonnex free.Justice Secretary Jack Straw has apologised to the families over blunders which left Sonnex free.
A senior probation officer in London has resigned as a result of the mistakes.A senior probation officer in London has resigned as a result of the mistakes.
'Appalling, sadistic murders''Appalling, sadistic murders'
Six weeks before the killings, magistrates had granted Sonnex bail on charges of handling stolen goods.Six weeks before the killings, magistrates had granted Sonnex bail on charges of handling stolen goods.
He was expected to be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of an earlier sentence, but the paperwork was not ready and he walked free from court.He was expected to be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of an earlier sentence, but the paperwork was not ready and he walked free from court.
Lydie Bonomo said her son Laurent would still be alive today if the mistakes had not been made.Lydie Bonomo said her son Laurent would still be alive today if the mistakes had not been made.
Mr Straw condemned the crimes as "the most appalling, sadistic, and gratuitous murders".Mr Straw condemned the crimes as "the most appalling, sadistic, and gratuitous murders".
Students Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were tied up and stabbedStudents Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were tied up and stabbed
He said: "The direct responsibility for these killings must lie - as the jury found - with the criminals Sonnex and Farmer.He said: "The direct responsibility for these killings must lie - as the jury found - with the criminals Sonnex and Farmer.
"But it is also the case that Sonnex could and should have been in custody at the time he committed these murders."But it is also the case that Sonnex could and should have been in custody at the time he committed these murders.
"It was the consequence of very serious failures across the criminal justice system that he had not been arrested and incarcerated some weeks before.""It was the consequence of very serious failures across the criminal justice system that he had not been arrested and incarcerated some weeks before."
He added a number of reviews had since taken place, the result of which is that 100 new probation officers would be recruited in the capital over the next two years.He added a number of reviews had since taken place, the result of which is that 100 new probation officers would be recruited in the capital over the next two years.
The Metropolitan Police now has a unit in each London borough dedicated to arresting wanted offenders.The Metropolitan Police now has a unit in each London borough dedicated to arresting wanted offenders.
Farmer was also found guilty at the Old Bailey of burglary, a charge Sonnex had already admitted.Farmer was also found guilty at the Old Bailey of burglary, a charge Sonnex had already admitted.
Unimaginable horrorUnimaginable horror
Both men were also found guilty of false imprisonment and arson.Both men were also found guilty of false imprisonment and arson.
The pair will be sentenced later on Thursday.The pair will be sentenced later on Thursday.
What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror Prosecutor Crispin Aylett In Pictures: The murder scene (Contains disturbing images)
During the trial, prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said Mr Ferez and Mr Bonomo had been tortured then murdered because Sonnex and Farmer were unable to get cash from a machine using one of the students' bank cards.During the trial, prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said Mr Ferez and Mr Bonomo had been tortured then murdered because Sonnex and Farmer were unable to get cash from a machine using one of the students' bank cards.
Mr Aylett said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.Mr Aylett said: "To take revenge for the fact that they had been unable to steal money from Mr Ferez, both men were murdered in a way that can only be described as inhuman.
"What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror.""What the firemen found was a scene of almost unimaginable horror."
Sonnex and Farmer had blamed each other, but Mr Aylett described the crime as a "joint enterprise of unmitigated evil".Sonnex and Farmer had blamed each other, but Mr Aylett described the crime as a "joint enterprise of unmitigated evil".
Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez were biochemistry students at the Polytech Clermont-Ferrand.Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez were biochemistry students at the Polytech Clermont-Ferrand.
They were weeks away from finishing a research project at Imperial College when they were killed on 29 June.They were weeks away from finishing a research project at Imperial College when they were killed on 29 June.
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Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were stabbed hundreds of times Farmer and Sonnex were caught by CCTV several times on the day of the attack