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Two jailed over boy's pool death | Two jailed over boy's pool death |
(30 minutes later) | |
Two men who forced a boy into a flooded clay pit and watched him drown have been jailed for five-and-a-half years. | Two men who forced a boy into a flooded clay pit and watched him drown have been jailed for five-and-a-half years. |
The body of Shane Owoo, 16, was recovered from Lunt Pool in Bilston, West Midlands, on 30 September 2007. | The body of Shane Owoo, 16, was recovered from Lunt Pool in Bilston, West Midlands, on 30 September 2007. |
The court heard that Shane had been "frogmarched" down to the pool and pelted with stones the day before his body was found. | The court heard that Shane had been "frogmarched" down to the pool and pelted with stones the day before his body was found. |
Christopher Lewis, 22, and Marvin Walker, 21, both from Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. | Christopher Lewis, 22, and Marvin Walker, 21, both from Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. |
'Terrifying ordeal' | 'Terrifying ordeal' |
Tobias Davies, 21, of Wolverhampton, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was jailed for 12 months. | Tobias Davies, 21, of Wolverhampton, who admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was jailed for 12 months. |
But he was released immediately as he had already served 13 months in prison on remand. | But he was released immediately as he had already served 13 months in prison on remand. |
Sentencing the three men, Judge Peter Coulson described the crime as "extraordinarily callous behaviour". | Sentencing the three men, Judge Peter Coulson described the crime as "extraordinarily callous behaviour". |
"This was a long and terrifying ordeal, deliberately inflicted on Shane Owoo," he said. | "This was a long and terrifying ordeal, deliberately inflicted on Shane Owoo," he said. |
"Shane Owoo was not a voluntary swimmer and may have jumped into the pool, from what he was being told, out of sheer fear." | |
When the sentences were read out, one member of Shane Owoo's family shouted at the judge: "I hope none of your family get murdered." | |
Lewis and Walker were told at Birmingham Crown Court they would have to serve half their sentence in custody and the other half on licence. | Lewis and Walker were told at Birmingham Crown Court they would have to serve half their sentence in custody and the other half on licence. |
Shane was in that water... nobody helped him get out and as a result he died Det Insp Simon Richards | |
Shane had been made to enter the pool after he had taken a bike belonging to one of the defendants, the police said at the time. | Shane had been made to enter the pool after he had taken a bike belonging to one of the defendants, the police said at the time. |
Sticks and stones were used to stop the teenager, described by police as "not a strong swimmer", from getting out of the water. His body was recovered the next day. | Sticks and stones were used to stop the teenager, described by police as "not a strong swimmer", from getting out of the water. His body was recovered the next day. |
Prosecutor Anesta Weekes QC said the defendants were, "vigilantes taking the law into their own hands". | |
She said about a dozen people watched Shane struggle in the water and did not try to rescue him. | |
Det Insp Simon Richards said outside the court that it was a "dreadful crime". | Det Insp Simon Richards said outside the court that it was a "dreadful crime". |
"A 16-year-old boy lost his life as a direct result of three men and their behaviour," he said. | "A 16-year-old boy lost his life as a direct result of three men and their behaviour," he said. |
"Shane was in that water. Nobody helped him get out and as a result he died." | "Shane was in that water. Nobody helped him get out and as a result he died." |