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| Soldier jailed for drunken death | Soldier jailed for drunken death |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Devon soldier who killed his uncle during a drunken row last year has been jailed for six years. | A Devon soldier who killed his uncle during a drunken row last year has been jailed for six years. |
| Gareth Thomas, 21, who was on leave from Iraq at the time, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter at Exeter Crown Court. | Gareth Thomas, 21, who was on leave from Iraq at the time, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter at Exeter Crown Court. |
| The killing happened at a family event on 28 August after Mr Thomas returned home to Torquay from the Basra region. | The killing happened at a family event on 28 August after Mr Thomas returned home to Torquay from the Basra region. |
| Judge Graham Cottle told Thomas the case "amply demonstrated" why the use of knives was a major concern. | Judge Graham Cottle told Thomas the case "amply demonstrated" why the use of knives was a major concern. |
| He said his uncle's only sin on the day he was killed was to protect his sister from his nephew's drunken aggression. | |
| To be killed in such a violent manner by someone he loved will haunt us forever Bailey family statement | |
| Michael Bailey, an ex-soldier, died from a knife wound to the heart in the kitchen of Thomas's home at Denys Road, Torquay. | Michael Bailey, an ex-soldier, died from a knife wound to the heart in the kitchen of Thomas's home at Denys Road, Torquay. |
| Thomas had drunk up to 15 bottles of beer on a night out before the killing. | Thomas had drunk up to 15 bottles of beer on a night out before the killing. |
| The court heard he was upset to discover his mother had been having an affair with a man he did not like. | |
| An argument followed in which Thomas shouted at his mother and pushed her. | An argument followed in which Thomas shouted at his mother and pushed her. |
| Mr Bailey was fatally injured when he tried to intervene, but Thomas had claimed he did not deliberately push the knife towards his uncle. | Mr Bailey was fatally injured when he tried to intervene, but Thomas had claimed he did not deliberately push the knife towards his uncle. |
| Judge Cottle said Mr Bailey's only sin was trying to protect his sisterAfter sentencing a statement was read out on behalf of Mr Bailey's widow and family. | |
| It said: "Whilst justice has been done at court, nothing will ever bring back Mike. | |
| "To be killed in such a violent manner by someone he loved will haunt us forever. | |
| "My family has been torn apart by raw feelings - not only an overwhelming sadness but confusion, frustration and anger. | |
| "It has taken away everything. He will still be young when he comes out of prison, but my children will not have their dad." |