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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pair guilty of shop trip murder | Pair guilty of shop trip murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been found guilty of murdering a father-of-five as he walked home from a Staffordshire shop. | A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been found guilty of murdering a father-of-five as he walked home from a Staffordshire shop. |
| Michael Eccles was attacked as he returned to his home, in the Dimbles area of Lichfield, on 25 January 2009. | Michael Eccles was attacked as he returned to his home, in the Dimbles area of Lichfield, on 25 January 2009. |
| The 43-year-old died a day later from injuries he sustained. | The 43-year-old died a day later from injuries he sustained. |
| Carl Keatley, of Greencroft, and teenager Jordan Carroll, who is also from Lichfield, were convicted at Birmingham Crown Court. | Carl Keatley, of Greencroft, and teenager Jordan Carroll, who is also from Lichfield, were convicted at Birmingham Crown Court. |
| The youth's father Edward Carroll, 55, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. | The youth's father Edward Carroll, 55, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. |
| 'Difficult and troubling' | |
| The court was told he tried to help his son "cover up" the crime by putting his blood-stained clothes in the washing machine and cleaning blood from his head. | The court was told he tried to help his son "cover up" the crime by putting his blood-stained clothes in the washing machine and cleaning blood from his head. |
| The court heard the pair had spent the day drinking vodka in a local park and were both drunk. | |
| Mr Eccles was attacked after going to the shop to buy wine and milk 'Problems persist' at murder site | |
| They had got into a "verbal exchange" with Mr Eccles as he left the store with a bottle of wine and milk and asked them to move on. | |
| They then chased him and knocked him to the ground and punched, kicked and stamped on him. | |
| He was left lying in the street with a burst eye socket, 10 broken ribs, broken bones in his neck and massive facial injuries. | |
| His head had been "literally kicked in", Gareth Evans QC, prosecuting, said. | |
| Judge Robert Juckes QC said the case had been "difficult and troubling". | Judge Robert Juckes QC said the case had been "difficult and troubling". |
| He adjourned sentencing until 11 September. All three were remanded in custody. | He adjourned sentencing until 11 September. All three were remanded in custody. |
| The sentence must be a deterrent to the feral youths who terrorise our society, apparently above the law John Bayliss, victim's brother-in-law | |
| Mr Eccles' family said they were "very pleased" with the verdict but called for tough sentences. | |
| "We hope that the sentences that are passed will be harsh enough to reflect what was a vicious and sustained attack on an innocent man," his brother-in-law John Bayliss said. | |
| "I believe in an eye for an eye. In the absence of that, life should mean life - not 15 years or less. | |
| "The sentence must be a deterrent to the feral youths who terrorise our society, apparently above the law. | |
| "We will never forgive this evil pair. They showed no mercy to a defenceless man as he lay dying on the floor." | |
| Ch Supt Mick Harrison, of Staffordshire Police, said: "Mr Eccles suffered sickening injuries, in a pointless, savage attack. | |
| "His death was an utter tragedy. He was a much-loved and devoted family man, who was obviously highly regarded by his friends and colleagues. " |