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Cpl Geoffrey McNeill murder: Soldier sentenced to life Cpl Geoffrey McNeill murder: Soldier sentenced to life
(about 1 hour later)
A soldier has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering his comrade in an attack at their barracks.A soldier has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering his comrade in an attack at their barracks.
L/Cpl Richard Farrell, 23, set upon Cpl Geoffrey McNeill, 32, of County Antrim, in his room at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, Shropshire, in March.L/Cpl Richard Farrell, 23, set upon Cpl Geoffrey McNeill, 32, of County Antrim, in his room at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, Shropshire, in March.
He inflicted "a series of heavy blows", according to prosecuting QC Christopher Hotten, breaking Cpl McNeill's neck in three places.He inflicted "a series of heavy blows", according to prosecuting QC Christopher Hotten, breaking Cpl McNeill's neck in three places.
Farrell was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years at Birmingham Crown Court. At Birmingham Crown Court, Farrell was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years.
In a majority decision, the jury returned its verdict against Farrell, from Dublin, a member of the Royal Irish Regiment, after 19 hours of deliberation.In a majority decision, the jury returned its verdict against Farrell, from Dublin, a member of the Royal Irish Regiment, after 19 hours of deliberation.
He claimed he had drunk at least a litre of Disaronno liqueur and remembered nothing of the night's events after being punched by Cpl McNeill, of Ballymoney, in a pub in nearby Market Drayton. 'Sustained pressure'
Farrell told the jury his last memory was of seeing another soldier and Cpl McNeill standing in front of him "and next it just goes black". He claimed he remembered nothing of the night's events, having drunk at least a litre of Disaronno liqueur and after having been punched by Cpl McNeill, of Ballymoney, in a pub in Market Drayton earlier in the evening.
He said he tried to revive Cpl McNeill after discovering his body underneath a bed. Judge Melbourne Inman QC said of that claim: "Whether that is the truth, only you will know."
Farrell initially thought his comrade was asleep in his room, the court heard. Farrell said he tried to revive Cpl McNeill after discovering his body underneath a bed.
Sentencing, Judge Inman told Farrell he had carried out a "very severe assault" on the Afghanistan conflict veteran, but that was not how he killed him.
"You killed him by sustained pressure to his neck with either a ligature or manually, like some form of arm hold," he said.
In the course of the strangulation, the judge added, a post-mortem examination revealed Cpl McNeill had dug his fingernails so hard into his own neck in a bid to break whatever hold was on him, it had left marks.
'Respected soldier'
Judge Inman said having killed Cpl McNeill, Farrell then "left his body".
"I am satisfied that there is no sensible possibility you went looking for Mr McNeill for purely peaceful reasons and only reacted with such violence as a result of something that passed between you," he added.
Cpl McNeill, 32, was found with various injuries, including to his testicles.Cpl McNeill, 32, was found with various injuries, including to his testicles.
L/Cpl Farrell has said he grabbed them to check if his comrade was conscious. Farrell had told the court he grabbed them to check if his comrade was conscious.
The judge said it was clear Cpl McNeill was "obviously a hugely well liked and respected soldier".
The jury agreed with the Crown's case that he was murdered by Farrell in the early hours of 8 March.