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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 Shane had been "frogmarched" down to the pool and pelted with stones in a row over a bike the day before he was found dead. | The court heard Shane had been "frogmarched" down to the pool and pelted with stones in a row over a bike the day before he was found dead. |
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. |
Tobias Davies, 21, of Frost Street, Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 months. | Tobias Davies, 21, of Frost Street, Ettingshall, Wolverhampton, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 12 months. |
To be treated in the way [Shane] was treated is really unforgivable Pauline Fox, Shane's aunt | To be treated in the way [Shane] was treated is really unforgivable Pauline Fox, Shane's aunt |
But he was released by Judge Peter Coulson, after already having served 13 months in prison on remand. | But he was released by Judge Peter Coulson, after already having served 13 months in prison on remand. |
Sentencing the three men at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Coulson described the crime as "extraordinarily callous behaviour". | Sentencing the three men at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge 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." | "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's family shouted at the judge: "I hope none of your family get murdered." | When the sentences were read out, one member of Shane's family shouted at the judge: "I hope none of your family get murdered." |
Marvin Walker and Christopher Lewis both pleaded guilty to manslaughter | Marvin Walker and Christopher Lewis both pleaded guilty to manslaughter |
Lewis, whose address was ordered not to be disclosed, and Walker were told 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. | Sticks and stones were used to stop the teenager, described by police as "not a strong swimmer", from getting out of the water. |
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. | In a letter read out in court, Walker, of no fixed address, apologised for what he did. |
'Always regret it' | 'Always regret it' |
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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | All three entered their guilty pleas on April 2. |
During the hearing Shane's aunt Pauline Fox told the court: "I do not think anybody needs to go through what he went through. There was no reason whatsoever. | During the hearing Shane's aunt Pauline Fox told the court: "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." | "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." |