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Shane Tunney murder: Gang jailed for iron bar street attack | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A gang convicted of a savage street killing which saw a man "kicked like a football" as he went to buy pizza, has been jailed. | |
Shane Tunney, 24, died after being attacked on Norton High Street in Stockton, County Durham, last June. | |
At Teesside Crown Court, Kearan Terry Davis and Kieran Harry Davis, both 18, were jailed for life for murder. | At Teesside Crown Court, Kearan Terry Davis and Kieran Harry Davis, both 18, were jailed for life for murder. |
Five others convicted of manslaughter were jailed but Mr Tunney's father said he was disappointed at the sentences. | |
Kearan Terry Davis must serve a minimum of 15 years, while his cousin Kieran Harry Davis must remain in prison for at least 13 years before being eligible for parole. | Kearan Terry Davis must serve a minimum of 15 years, while his cousin Kieran Harry Davis must remain in prison for at least 13 years before being eligible for parole. |
The trial heard Mr Tunney had been at a cash machine with his friend Anthony Kirk when they were pelted with waste food by a group on the roof of an adjoining Tesco store. | The trial heard Mr Tunney had been at a cash machine with his friend Anthony Kirk when they were pelted with waste food by a group on the roof of an adjoining Tesco store. |
Shortly after that, they were confronted and attacked. | |
One witness described Mr Tunney as being "kicked - like they were kicking footballs at a goal". He died in hospital five weeks later after being in a coma. Mr Kirk was beaten with a pole. | |
Jake Douglas, Brandon Pitt, and Daniel Hunt, all 18, and two other teenagers who cannot be named, were cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. | Jake Douglas, Brandon Pitt, and Daniel Hunt, all 18, and two other teenagers who cannot be named, were cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. |
Pitt was given a seven-year sentence, Douglas and Hunt were both handed four-and-a-half-year terms. | Pitt was given a seven-year sentence, Douglas and Hunt were both handed four-and-a-half-year terms. |
A 17-year-old was jailed for four years for manslaughter and a youth of 16 for 45 months. Neither can be named because of their ages. | |
Mr Justice Andrew Smith paid tribute to Mr Tunney, a car valeter, saying he was a "wholly decent man" who was kind to others. | |
Mr Tunney's partner of five years, Vix Cooper, said in a statement to the court: "The most heartbreaking thing is knowing all of this could have been avoided." | |
After the hearing, Mr Tunney's father, Keith Wilson, said he was disappointed with the sentences handed out. | |
He said: "Some of them will have their lives back in a few years and we've lost our son. He'll never come back. | |
"I think the system is unfair and we're very disappointed." | |
Det Ch Insp Steve Young, of Cleveland Police, said: "On that evening, Shane was a hero and he should be remembered as just that. | |
"Those responsible acted in a pack, carefully coordinating their attack on Shane and Anthony. | |
"They were viciously assaulted with a metal bar for no reason. The victims were simply going to pick up food and did not ask for a fight." |
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