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Brothers who killed banker jailed | Brothers who killed banker jailed |
(18 minutes later) | |
Two brothers who admitted the manslaughter of a banker who died after trying to help a homeless man in Norwich have been jailed. | |
Frank McGarahan, 45, of Hertfordshire, an executive at Barclays Wealth, died a day after the attack in September 2008. | |
Tom, 22, and Ben Cowles, 21, of Costessey, near Norwich, were jailed for seven and seven-and-a-half years respectively, at Norwich Crown Court. | |
Mr McGarhan's family later condemned the terms as "disgracefully low". | |
Both defendants, of Beaumont Road, also admitted affray, while Ben pleaded guilty to an additional charge of assault. | |
Seven and seven and a half years respectively for killing someone is appalling Tony McGarahan, Frank's brother | |
Mr McGarahan, his brother Kevin and cousin Sean Ryan, had witnessed an assault on another man in central Norwich at about 0300 BST, 28 September. | |
At a hearing on 9 June, the court was told how the men intervened after seeing a group of youths attacking a man of "down-and-out appearance". | At a hearing on 9 June, the court was told how the men intervened after seeing a group of youths attacking a man of "down-and-out appearance". |
The court saw CCTV footage of the incident captured by a number of city centre cameras. | The court saw CCTV footage of the incident captured by a number of city centre cameras. |
Judge Mr Justice Saunders, sentencing, told the court that the sentences were not intended to reflect the McGarahan family's loss or the value of Mr McGarahan's life. | |
He said he had to hand down sentences within legal guidelines. | |
"The sentence I am going to pass will undoubtedly be criticised as being lenient," he said. | |
"All I can do is to emphasise that in terms of the authorities, this sentence is at the top of the bracket and deliberately so. | |
"People have to learn that if they go out and get drunk and indulge in violence on the streets, they may kill people. | |
'Review sentencing' | |
"If they do, they need to know that long sentences will follow. | |
"The public are entitled to expect that the courts will do all they can to make our streets safe for ordinary people to go out and enjoy themselves." | |
Frank McGarahan's brother Tony said: "This sentence is quite frankly disgracefully low. | |
"Seven and seven and a half years respectively for killing someone is appalling." | |
He added: "I would call on the Government to review sentencing guidelines." |