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| Cpl Geoffrey McNeill murder: Soldier sentenced to life | Cpl Geoffrey McNeill murder: Soldier sentenced to life |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| At Birmingham Crown Court, Farrell was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years. | 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. |
| 'Sustained pressure' | 'Sustained pressure' |
| 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 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. |
| Judge Melbourne Inman QC said of that claim: "Whether that is the truth, only you will know." | Judge Melbourne Inman QC said of that claim: "Whether that is the truth, only you will know." |
| Farrell said he tried to revive Cpl McNeill, who was educated in Blackpool, 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. | 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. | "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. | 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' | 'Respected soldier' |
| Judge Inman said having killed Cpl McNeill, Farrell then "left his body". | 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. | "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. |
| Farrell had told the court 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 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. | The jury agreed with the Crown's case that he was murdered by Farrell in the early hours of 8 March. |
| In a statement released following sentencing, Cpl McNeill's family said: "The sentence received by Richard Farrell is not comparable to the sentence carried by those who knew and loved Geoff, for which there is no limit. | |
| "The devastation caused is immeasurable, unforgettable and indefinite. | |
| ""We would like Geoff to be remembered for the legend that he was and not for the dishonourable, cowardly and brutal way in which he was taken from us all." |