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Jessie J gig murderer loses conviction appeal | Jessie J gig murderer loses conviction appeal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man jailed for murdering a father-of-two with a bottle at an event where singer Jessie J was performing has lost his conviction and sentence appeal. | A man jailed for murdering a father-of-two with a bottle at an event where singer Jessie J was performing has lost his conviction and sentence appeal. |
Ashley Charles slashed the neck of Phillip Sherriff, 37, at a London nightclub. | |
Charles, 27, from Leicester, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years after a trial in November 2012. | |
The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal to be sentenced for manslaughter instead of murder. | |
Both were guests at an event at south London club Pulse in April last year organised by BlackBerry, the company Mr Sherriff worked for. | |
The trial court heard Charles became annoyed when Mr Sherriff, from Preston, pushed him in a crowded bar. | |
Must serve sentence | Must serve sentence |
Charles took a beer bottle from Mr Sherriff's hand and swung it behind him, where it broke, and then plunged it into Mr Sherriff's neck. He died four days later. | Charles took a beer bottle from Mr Sherriff's hand and swung it behind him, where it broke, and then plunged it into Mr Sherriff's neck. He died four days later. |
During sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Paul Worsley told him: "You did not deliberately smash the bottle you used. I am satisfied you did not intend to kill Mr Sherriff and you were immediately remorseful." | |
At the Court of Appeal, the judges decided to reject Charles's case to be sentenced for the lesser offence. | At the Court of Appeal, the judges decided to reject Charles's case to be sentenced for the lesser offence. |
Lord Justice Jackson said the jury decided that he had "intended to cause really serious harm", adding: "In our view, on the evidence, the jury were fully entitled to reach that conclusion and they received all proper assistance from the judge." | Lord Justice Jackson said the jury decided that he had "intended to cause really serious harm", adding: "In our view, on the evidence, the jury were fully entitled to reach that conclusion and they received all proper assistance from the judge." |
He said the trial judge had weighed up all the favourable and unfavourable matters when deciding on the minimum term of 14 years. | He said the trial judge had weighed up all the favourable and unfavourable matters when deciding on the minimum term of 14 years. |
Lord Justice Jackson concluded: "On any view that assessment was a perfectly proper one. We see no grounds for this court to interfere. | Lord Justice Jackson concluded: "On any view that assessment was a perfectly proper one. We see no grounds for this court to interfere. |
"We agree with the trial judge that this incident was a tragedy. Mr Sherriff has lost his life and the appellant must serve the sentence imposed upon him." | "We agree with the trial judge that this incident was a tragedy. Mr Sherriff has lost his life and the appellant must serve the sentence imposed upon him." |
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