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Two jailed over boy's pool death | Two jailed over boy's pool death |
(about 1 hour 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 in a row over a bike 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 Frost Street, Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 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". |
Shane was in that water... nobody helped him get out and as a result he died Det Insp Simon Richards | |
"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." | "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." | 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 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. |
'All went wrong' | |
Prosecutor Anesta Weekes QC said the defendants were, "vigilantes taking the law into their own hands". | 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. | She said about a dozen people watched Shane struggle in the water and did not try to rescue him. |
In a letter read out in court, Walker, of no fixed address, apologised for what he did. | |
Shane's body was recovered from Lunt Pool in Bilston | |
The letter said: "It all went wrong, it all got completely out of hand and I am sorry. I did not want him to drown. | |
"I know I should have helped him but I did not and I will always regret it." | |
The court heard that although Davies carried out the initial attack on Shane, he was not involved in the incident at the poolside. | |
All three entered their guilty pleas on April 2. | |
During the hearing Shane's aunt Pauline Fox told the court the family were still "struggling" to come to terms with how he died. | |
She said: "I do not think anybody needs to go through what he went through. There was no reason whatsoever. | |
"It is something we are never going to be able to get over. To be treated in the way he was treated is really unforgivable." | |
Det Insp Simon Richards said outside the court it had been 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." |