Morning:
13°c
Three knife-wielding thugs who stabbed 16-year-old Ben Kinsella to death in a row over "respect" were convicted of his murder today.
Jade Braithwaite, 20, Juress Kika, 19, and Michael Alleyne, 18, face life sentences when they are sentenced tomorrow at the Old Bailey for the killing, which sparked an outcry over London's knife culture.
Ben's sister, the former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, broke down in tears as the jury returned guilty verdicts.
Ben was stabbed 11 times in five seconds as he was out celebrating the end of his GCSEs last June with friends in Islington.
He had left the Shillibeers bar as a trivial row - sparked by a friend of Braithwaite asking one of Ben's group: "What are you staring at?" - spilled out on to the street.
After Braithwaite summoned Kika and Alleyne, they picked out Ben - who had not been involved in the row - and chased him down North Road towards York Way, where he was cornered and stabbed repeatedly.
After Ben's murder - the 17th of a teenager in the capital last year - the Kinsellas launched a campaign against knife crime.
Today police rounded up more than 200 members of gangs, some as young as 11, in a crackdown on knife violence.
Outside court today, Ben's stepfather, George, said: "Our son's only crime was being the last to run away from those animals." He added: "Knife crime is now sadly embedded in the heart of Great Britain, always running the lives of gangs and feral youths. Parents live in fear until their children are safely home. It could be a wrong word, a wrong look or the wrong postcode. In Ben's case, it was something which was nothing to do with him at all."
The three killers all had criminal pasts.
Convicted mugger Alleyne was under a training order having been released from custody for dealing crack cocaine and heroin three months before the murder. He had been freed from a Young Offenders Institution under the supervision of Islington probation service.
Kika was on the run from police after a drug-related robbery and stabbing of a 21-year-old victim.
Brooke Kinsella, 25, who played Kelly Taylor for five years in the BBC TV soap, held hands with her mother Deborah, stepfather and sisters, as the verdicts were returned.
She had described her brother as "not only a beautiful son and brother but a true angel -one of the kindest and gentlest boys God created".
Ben's murder came just weeks after the murders of Harry Potter actor Rob Knox, 18, Jimmy Mizen and Shakilus Townsend, aged just 14.
The Kinsellas launched a website and fund in Ben's memory and Brooke pleaded for anyone with information to come forward to the police.
More than 400 people, many dressed in white as a symbol of peace, marched in protest through Islington, stopping outside Mayor Boris Johnson's house which is close to the murder scene.
The killers were eventually trapped after they revealed crucial evidence in covert recordings.
Prosecutor Nicholas Hilliard QC said Ben was "a boy who had done no harm to anybody" but was murdered just for knowing his friend.
He said Ben's death had "its origins in one of those 'Who are you looking at?' issues [which] years ago might have ended in sharp words but these days ends on a sharp knife".
DCI John Macdonald, the senior investigating officer, described the killers as "three cowards, older and bigger than Ben and armed with knives".
He said: "Ben was the one they grabbed hold of because he didn't run off. Ben was genuinely innocent. He had nothing to do with it.
"He was popular, people knew the family. It materialised out of nothing, out of a stupid non-event in a pub.
"You do wonder about some people's total ignorance. It is social inability to rationalise what's happened, talk things through.
"Braithwaite probably felt he had been embarrassed by younger kids and wanted to take some retribution."
Jurors heard that attempts had been made to destroy and fix evidence and intimidate witnesses.
Mr Hilliard said: "Clothing has gone, the murder weapon or weapons have gone, telephone cards have gone.
"You have heard offers to pay money for false stories, an attempt was made to stop a witness coming to court."
Alleyne and Kika, from Islington, and Braithwaite from Bow, had all denied murder.
Braithwaite, who once coached football at Sobell Leisure Centre in Finsbury Park, told the jury he had been at the scene of the murder, but said he stood and watched as Alleyne repeatedly knifed the victim.
Alleyne claimed Braithwaite inflicted the fatal blows. Kika neither answered police questions nor gave evidence.
Mr Hilliard said that because of their age 15 years should be the starting point for the minimum term they should serve in their life sentences.
The judge, Common Serjeant of London Brian Barker, QC, can raise the number of years as they had used two knives in the streets with an intention to kill, planned the attack together and inflicted 11 wounds, said Mr Hilliard.
Outside court Brooke Kinsella said: "I am overjoyed. It's awful, awful but we got all we needed - it's justice."
Reader views (92)
Dan-oh please mate. Do the names of Damilola Taylor or Steven Lawrence ring any bells? Stop playing the race card all the time, because we're getting sick of it!
- Abigail, London
jade,michael,juress,when you lie down tonight and many,many nights to come you will at some point contemplate your future.you will at some point also consider your plight and your actions.night time in the dark on your own does have a habit of enhancing the reality of all our actions and fear can sometimes take hold of our minds.might i add though nothing like poor ben must have endured.i can't imagine what it will be like for all of you , constantly looking over your shoulders for the rest of your lives.some say revenge is best served cold.personally i believe that revenge is the lords i appreciate it's not everyones but it is mine.why should decent law abiding people stoop to the same actions that you have displayed.when and if you make old age ,unlike ben,i wonder how you will review your lives was it all worthwhile and what positive legacies will you have left behind.memories in the heads and hearts of those who knew ben will be nothing but beautiful.
- F Devon, torbay devon
If Labour want to restore public faith in their party.
Either,
Bring back the Death Penalty
OR
Life to mean life behind bars
- Jen, london
Two points. 1) Capital punishment is the only sentence that could possibly provide justice in this case. A minimum of 19 years is simply an insult. Capital punishment will return, probably not for another 30 years is my guess, but it will. In the meantime Life has to mean life. Are you listening Straw? You die in prison or you die handcuffed to a hospital bed. 2) I have seen the race issue play out on this thread. It's simple. If three white men kill an innocent black lad, we are entitled to ask whether or not the murderers were racially-motivated. If three black men kill an innocent white lad, we are entitled to ask whether or not the murderers were racially-motivated. Where's the difference?
- Paul, London
A 19 year sentence is inadequate. I can't believe that there are people on this Comment who don't share the views of the majority. One of the friends of these three phoned Radio London yesterday and he said the killers needed support! Ha! It also worries me that one of the the three did the killing, a second said it was one of the two others, and the third remained silent.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
I'm against the death penalty. It's too quick. Life should mean life. Forever. That's it. No TV, music, papers, books or visits. Just forty or fifty years of lonely horror. If they try to kill themselves use the best medicine in the world to save them so they can live as long as possible. Then put it all on the internet. prisoncell.com? Sticking such a pathetic life on the internet might but other scum off.
- Sean, London
These murderers are scum imported by the labour party. They should be executed & I will vote for a political party that supports my view
- Christy, aldershot uk
- John North, London, UK
A point well made.
This is the problem, because of a pandering government, we cannot have a mature debate on how to deal with these issues until we acknowledge the true facts surrounding these issues. Cries of racism have politicians running scared, subsequently nothing gets done.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Only one sentence would truly suffice for these disgusting cretins: death.
- Paul, London
The only reason this stabbing is all over the news is because the boy's white.
-Dan, London.
Dan, ever heard of Stephen Lawrence of Damilola Taylor?, I suggest you get your facts right before you comment,racist.
- Frankie, Essex
I have an idea : if you look as charming as those 'animals' in the picture and you carry a knife then you get 1 year in prison per 1 inch of blade. of course you would have to build more prisons...and in those prisons you might be able to educate these 'animals,' although just looking at them one can see that when made no brains were put in !
- Edouard, Toulouse, France
How come they all look like goofs?
- Hari Seldon, Fort Rouge, Canada
This is for all victims of crime-Don't let the criminals win
We won't let the criminals take our tears, we will save them for the brave
We won't let them make us fear,so lets break down the walls of fear
we won't let them drown us down,so let us open the book,pick up the pen and draw them in
we won't let them face us down, so smile like a clown and never wear a frown
We won't let them bind us in chains' so our minds are no more to be found
We live to fight, and when we see a simple smile , a beautiful rose , a perfect sunset then we know like all men we have the right to life.
- Hazel, london,UK
Why do we expect any less?
A diet of Gangsta Rap, Drugs, poor parenting and ignorance mixed together with complete and utter evil and disregard for any kind of values.
Time for a new penal code that really scares the life out of wannabe killers. Make prison a place that is terrifying, so bad that on your release you spread the word about it. A few hundred gibbering wrecks is a price worth paying for the peace of mind of those of us who live our lives properly.
Black & White together: Start the petition now.
Demand a change in thinking.
- Ged, Blackheath, London
These 'gangstaaas' will hopefully meet their equals in prison. Maybe they'll never smell freedom again.
Let's hope.
Scum.
- Ged, Blackheath, London
minimum....hard labour chain gang style, for ever.
maximum....death penalty
- Ray, Marlborough USA
For the thugs who murdered this young man, there is no such thing as "respect". They wouldn't recognize if they saw it and have never deserved it in any case. Stabbed 11 times in a matter of seconds - brutality and rage - nothing to do with "respect". There really is no justice on earth.
- Mary, Pittsburgh USA
The only reason this stabbing is all over the news is because the boy's white. Black youngsters, with nothing to do with gangs, get stabbed in the same scenario, and it isn't splashed across the news in the same way. The mass media, in this way, pushes forward the notion that black youngsters are violent criminals, even though they are more likely than any other demographic to be a victim of stabbing.
- Dan, london
That conveniently overlooks the fact that black youths also make up most of the murderers. In fact, more than 60% of London's murders are carried out by black youths - a thought-provoking statistic considering that less than 5% of the population is black.
- John North, London, UK
I agree that for cases like this bring back the death penalty. Politicians need to heed the undercurrent in the comments here, the vast majority of which advocate zero tolerance. If Govt does not legislate appropriately, there is an increasing risk of ordinary folk taking the law into their own hands with these scum - people have done far worse in previous recessionary times - all we need now is more terrorist activity and we truly will be entering unstable times in the UK.
- Jim, london
""The title of the article is striking me as quite racist! OK They are punished now but why demonize them?
It's not fair!''
Oh grow up Compayee!!!!!!
- Dep, London
Hope they rot in hell!
- Caroline, London
Dear readers,
Be careful of what you are saying,its important to have the facts think before you write. those stupid boys, calling them animals will not solve the problem in this society. Stephen Lawrence (13 September 1974 – 22 April 1993) was a black British teenager from South-East London who was stabbed to death while waiting for a bus . We did not call his killer animals. I agree with dan from London.
route
- Route, Netherland
Lb, London / Compayee London
You are both part of the problem that needs to be addressed. You don't seem to understand that Liberal policies are good if you have some intelligence and education. When you don't have one or either, the law of the jungle takes over with these devastating results.
Time for change.
- Eddie Bowler, Bromley, UK
Steve in Brentford
About as likely as Gordon Brown resigning.
Irene Gizelle
Very good point, animals are not evil, monsters would be a more appropriate description.
- Russell, London
Some of the comments from the vast majority on this thread scare me.
- Send the parents to prison for a year
- Bring back the death penalty
- Time to arm the public
And people also believing that they will be let out in 4 - 5 years, people who believe prison is like a glorified hotel.
Worrying, very worrying.
- Lb, London
Do not refer to these loathsome stomach churning scum as Animals. It really is an insult to the animal kingdom.
- Irene Gizelle, London UK
Another racist stabbing. Will we have another public enquiry?
- Steve, Brentford
Compayee
people like you are part of the problem, always making excuses and stirring the pot of hate.
- Russell, London
I was a Teddy boy when I was a youth; and one thing the older teds told us younger ones was; never carry a knife; use your fists in fights; if you kill someone with a weapon; they will hang you etc.
And of course you knew they would hang you if you killed someone with any kind of weapon; and they did.
In those days just having a weapon was termed premeditated to use it etc; if you never intended to use it; then why did you have it in the first place etc; its hard to fault that kind of legal and sensible thinking.
Of course not being stupid or cowardly; I learned to box and fight fair; thus avoided killing anyone; and never leaving myself in the position of being hung etc; the worst most of us suffered were the odd broken nose or black-eye etc.
Did the death sentence have any affect over me and my mates in those wild youthful days?
Bet your last penny it did; without the death penalty being there; we all would have carried knives and used them.
Its ok being PC; opposing the death sentence for murder and terrorism, even the ruling classes are safe in their well protected areas; until it’s you facing death; and death can come from nowhere; then and only then, you know what a Pratt you are.
Trust an Ex Teddy-Boy; if you equate the crime of murder, to the hangman’s rope; murder will decline very fast indeed; and innocents will finally be protected, or at the very least, avenged with true justice.
I know what I am talking about; I grew up on the streets.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Hanging is letting htem off easy.
Just put them in front of a wall and shoot them. They think they're cool by carrying knives and guns. Lets see how they feel to be on the receiving side of it
- Josh, London
Either capital punishment, or deportation to their country of origin is the answer. Anything less is totally ineffective, and provides no protection to the rest of us.
- Croyboy, Croydon
Justice thank god the jury see sthat these animals were to blame for bens death .. lets hope they throw away the key and that these men are haunted by what they have done
ps. have printed that mr kinsella is bens step father he is not his step father he is his father
- ., .
The only people who will serve a life sentence are Ben's family. These despicable men will be out in a few years; laughing at all of us.
- Beatriz, London
Can someone in the media interview the parents of these killers, please? Let's see what they think of it all.
- Ted, London
The only reason this stabbing is all over the news is because the boy's white. Black youngsters, with nothing to do with gangs, get stabbed in the same scenario, and it isn't splashed across the news in the same way. The mass media, in this way, pushes forward the notion that black youngsters are violent criminals, even though they are more likely than any other demographic to be a victim of stabbing. But it's alright, treat them act like animals until someone from 'your' society feels the repercussions. It's one world, and until our country truly treats everyone the same regardless of age, sex or race, nothing will ever change.
- Dan, london
@COMPAYEE
You should be ashamed of yourself playing the race card in this awful murder.
- Terry, watford, england
Compayee, take off your rose coloured spectacles and get with the programme mate..............
- Andy Woodhead, London, ENGLAND
3 down...this type if scum is a scourge on society, as they have no respect for our society, nor should we have any respect for them, and they should be treated accordingly. Once again law abiding citizens and tax payers will foot the bill of keeping this trash in prison and I personally have a problem with that. But how honest has our Government been lately and how are we supposed to instill a sense of 'right' when those who are supposed to lead the country are themselves caught up in expense fiddles. As for the probation services, they too should be held accountable when something like this happens. This scum will never change, you only need to look at their idiot poses in the pictures above to see that even when arrested they still had the audacity to pose for the camera, trying to look hard. If the legal system can't or won't introduce the death penalty then at least introduce hard labour. Make this scum pay, make them work 12hrs days in the worst conditions. Funny though, I never once see any comments from the parents of this scum saying how ashamed they are that they've allowed their children to grow up and behave like this....is this part of the great 'diversity' of London. The sooner the Government wakes up and realises that their lack of direct action on crime is destroying the fabric of society the sooner we can start enjoying this city more without this scum populating it.
- Alan, East London
These killers are not animals. Animals kill for a reason they had no reason, apart from a lack of a moral compass. I hope their parents are really proud of their off spring . They have no respect for anyone else why should people have respect for them. respect has been to be earned they have earned nothing throughout their whole sad waste of space of life. It may be time to bring back capital punishment, at least we would have to keep these "things" for any longer.
- Mb, London
Disgusting SCUM, I hope they rot
- Alan, London
Why can't we have more backgroud detail on these cold-hearted remorseless killers? Where were their fathers, for instance? Or is that kind of thing considered infringing their human rights these days?
- Brian Taylor, Oxford UK
Bring back hanging. That may instill some respect for the consequences of their actions.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
Murder has no more stigma in the U.K. It's accepted now as a totally normal part of U.K. life. British justice for murder is a joke -- and will remain so until proper penalties are reinstated -- including reinstating capital punishment. A slap on the wrist, and murderers are back on the street -- ready to kill again. I'd take over Albert Pierrepoint's role for free if a volunteer was needed.
- Phil Jones, London UK
The behaviour is these men is due entirely to them being victims of racism.
I know because Harriet Harman and Lee Grasper told me.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
I agree, bring back the death penalty, that would scare some people off and bring back some kind of safety on the streets
- Josh, London
Bring back hanging now!
- Trisha Crawford, EAST CROYDON
I agree bring back the death penalty , we are increasingly advancing in our investiagtion techniques and scum like this really don't deserve the lives they are given , do they even want a life , maybe we would be doing them a favor
- Adam, london
For all of those wanting to bring back the death penalty - what is someone was wrongly convicted? What happens then?
- Natty, London
The richly diverse cultures of Britain,all living in harmony.
Dream on.I wonder who's next?These may be locked up but there's hundreds more animals out there to replace them.
- Steve, London
What is needed are sentences which act as a punishment and a deterrent. The sentencing tariff for these cases need seriously looking at. In this case, if the oldest one is released after 15 years, he'll still be only 35 years old.
Anyone who carries a knife should be presumed to intend to use it and given a custodial sentence of a minimum of (say) 5 years if caught with one. This should make these young men think seriously about carrying them.
Perhaps we should adopt the American tariff for sentencing of when convicted of murder where these murderers would be automatically looking at being in jail for their natural life, if they are not executed. Not that I would advocate a return to capital punishment, but they certainly take no prisoners over there - no pun intended.
- Sonia M., St Albans, Herts
There are many good reasons not to bring back the death penalty. Not least because most decent people find the thought of the state killing its own citizens moral repugnant. However if your not one of those, maybe look at the evidence of it’s effectiveness (or lack of) before offering an ill thought out knee jerk response. I refer to my earlier post re the US having a much higher murder rate than the UK, now think, which is the only western country with the death penalty- yep, the US. It doesn’t work there as a deterrent to crime, what makes you think it would work here?
- Nj, London
Islington seem to be failing us when they put these scumbags on 'supervision' orders
Both Martin Dinnegans and Nass osawes killers were both on these ridiculous 'supervision' orders,they obviously dont work.
Put these so called 'men' in a 4 walled cell with nothing but a bed,toilet and sink. That is what you call punishment. None of this cushy cushy in-cell playstation,dvd,radio nonsense
- Jen, london
Can't see how having more weapons on the street can possibly help, and you have to look beyond single incidents. London is a safe place to live, violent crime is low (and falling according to last set of statistics)so don't allow fear of percieved high levels of crime to distort your view of the city and the people who live in it. The overwhelming majority of Londoners are decent, peaceful and considerate.
- P Long, London
It's frightening that people like this are loose on the streets of London. They routinely carry knives, they are quite happy to use them and they obviously don't care about being caught.
- Jethro Penzance, Streatham Common
The true face of crime in London.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Respect.........this bunch of low life ...I hope they get the respect they crave for in prison when confonted by some one twice as big and ugly as them. I hope each day brings them nothing but pain. The dogs.
- Rosie, Watford
Heres one for Gordon Brown
reinstate the death penalty NOW
result
Labour win next election
we get rid of a load of scum.
Just look at their eyes, pure hate coming out from all of them
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
Bring back the death penalty, and this time, let the public vote on it, not just the protected out of touch useless politicians.
- L.Taubler, London / ENGLAND
Nj, London - The U.S is 10 times bigger then the UK so saying the U.S has more crime is not a fare judgment.
- Joe, London
Filthy scum. One with a girl's name and the other two look like they're brain damaged. They should be executed.
- Squiz, Islington
To prevent these broken animals from killing again, there is only once solution: execution.
Odds are they will be out in 7 to 8 years.
- Trunk, US
as a country we have to change and have death sentance not to stop crime but to contain it why are we paying too keep ppl alive we cant even afford too look after our old ppl who have done nothing wrong but you wont get that out of mainstream partys ..
- Steve, london
I can't believe what is happening in this country. People have no respect for each other, or for the law. Earlier today I was forced off a bus 30 yards before the stop as a large lorry was parked in the bus stop. Despite carrying 4 bags of shopping I pointed out to the driver that he was illegally parked and was causing an obstruction. He told me that he knew. I was then abused by a bystander who told me to get a life.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
'Respect' for the law involves looking straight at the camera when having your mugshot taken. Is it against 'human rights' for police to insist on that? - or, just wait for the snap, for as l-o-n-g as it takes to happen.
- Steve, London, England
The site where Ben died is close to my son's nursery and I walk past it everyday with sadness that this young man, at the start of his life, had it taken away without a second thought, over something so trivial.
I sincerely hope that in their case, life really does mean life. They were old enough to know the consequences of their actions. Well, now let us see them pay for that action. I wonder how Braithwaite will cope with people 'dissin' him in prison instead.
- Smb, London, UK
Jail the parents for a year with their thug sons, this will lead to increased awareness of parental responsibilities...
- Teddy, Islington, London
The title of the article is striking me as quite racist! OK They are punished now but why demonize them?
It's not fair!
- Compayee, London
Last year, the charity I work for published some research looking at the reasons that young people choose to carry a weapon.
The author (a prison governor) interviewed groups of children in custody and in pupil referral units in north London to talk about why they felt the need to carry knives.
Fear of attack was the biggest issue, with the more immediate threat of being stabbed far more high in kids' minds than the idea of going to prison for possession.
There's more information on the book here
www.howardleague.org
- Hannah Mcfaull, London, UK
As someone who cares about good race relations in this Country, I am concerned about the number of occasions on which I see black and asian youths staring out at me in the context of some appalling murder. There is something rotten with a signifcant minority here: aspects of cultures which put violence and machismo forward as things to be proud of. Religion is not the answer, as these youths are statistically much more likely to come from religious backgrounds (whether Christian or Muslim). We need a revolution in our education system that stresses humanist values of respect for one another, and analytical thinking: dusty fairy stories from the 1st or 7th centuries just don't work. It is no cooincidence that if you look at a map of the World, then generally the more secular the culture/area the lower the murder rate.
- Alan, London
How dare you label this murdering low-life "Animals". Animals are wonderful.
- Judith C, London, England
When will we have the death penalty back for the sort of animals who kill like this . The same goes for those who slaughtered the two French students and any who perpetrate similar bestial crimes . If we got the chance to vote on it I'm sure the numbers voting for would be overwhelming . I'm sick of reading about the comparatively light sentences which are given . Lets get rid of these animals and cleanse our streets and jails .
- Derek Farman, windermere . UK
Perhaps the judge will recommend a minimum term in prison of around 20 years. It's not good enough that they can be released on licence after 5 or 6 years. Perhaps it will help to end this 'respect' nonsense once and for all.
- Paul, Kent
What are the chances they'll probably be out in 4 years, back on the streets bragging to their friends about how they literally almost got away with murder. It's about time a life sentence in these circumstances meant life behind bars.
- Ej, London
What makes me especially sick after all of these murders, is that when you see the mugshots of the killers they are all pulling their best Mr Tough Guy poses, when in truth they are nothing of the sort. In reality they are utter cowards.
The image of that guy Sonnex, who murdered the two French students glowering at the camera in his mugshot, and now the sight of these three goons trying to look tough for the cameras just proves to me that they will never be reformed.
They're more worried about the image that they convey rather than remorse, shame or humility. Three big guys armed with weapons, against one poor kid three or four years their junior. What real tough guys they must be!
These guys don't care what they've done, as their tragic show of bravado for the cameras proves. Lock them up and never, ever let them out again!
- Matt, London
JACKBOOT STRAW SHOULD RESIGN.
THESE THUGS WILL BE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY UNTIL THEIR RELEASE IN A FEW YEARS TIME.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
death penalty please. Nothing else will do!
- Colin, London
Yeah you do that NJ and Staker of London and when the weapon you use to protect yourself falls into the hands of your attacker and gets used against you then what? We'll be reading how you had a weapon and tried to use it and ended up dead because of it. Think sensibly and not like idiots.
- Lorraine, London
Just look at them, still trying their pathetic hardman poses in the Police mugshots. I hope that they serve very long sentences.
- Carl, London
Let’s stop all this buggering about just bring back the death penalty and do away with anyone convicted of murder.
- Mike M, Bedford England
`Youths`- they are MEN,we have younger people out in Afganistan fighting for us.
- Sean, London
Just bring back the death penalty.
- Matt, Richmond
Whatever sentence these cowardly scum get it will never be long enough,I hope they suffer every day behind bars,these boys were brave enough when they were attacking innocent unarmed youngsters for not "respecting" them,respect has to be earned in this life and these no marks need to be taught that.My feelings go out to Bens family who have shown strength and decorum throughout this whole affair.The tariff for this crime should be the highest possible as these cowardly bully scum cannot be rehabilitated and should be left to rot in a cell.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand
P Staker: having lived in Joburg and been to a range with fellow punters 'practicing in case' firing off round after round like action heros - all spectacularly missing the stationery target - I think you'd find yourself caught in even worse scenario trying to dodge the stray bullets.
If people committing first degree murder - where it is indisputable that they did it and that it was premeditated - were hanged, little ticks like this trio would pause for thought before committing the crime themselves.
- Roz, France
Arming ourselves, unless controlled, won't work because then these pikey scum will be able to do it. Make prisons harsher and reintroduce, you've guessed it, the death penalty. That will make people think twice, and get rid of those who choose to take away the right to life of another.
- Ted, London UK
Glad these pieces of scum has been put away - but surely this is a racist attack but seeing as it was black on white no mention of it - strange....
- Jean, romford, essex
I'm sure they'll really regret it when they're sitting in their single cell playing on their playstation, and let's not forget they'll probably only serve 50% of their sentences. Thanks Gordon.
- Bob, Cheam
"It's high time we were allowed to legally arm ourselves in this country, it is not safe to walk in many party of London." Honestly, who in their right mind thinks that more guns on the streets would make them safer!?! It hardly works in the US which has a far higher murder rate than here.
- Nj, London
Scum.
- C. Nichol, London
I hope these thugs get a really long time in jail to think about wtaht they've done
- Slobbo, london
They'll all be out in a few years, stabbing, raping, mugging again.
It's high time we were allowed to legally arm ourselves in this country, it is not safe to walk in many party of London.
- Staker, London, SW8
Good! Get all these scumbags off our streets! Just a shame we can't string them up for it.
They will never understand what they have done to this poor family. They'll just take their ten years in some cushy prison and will be out in five. I mean, murdering someone for supposedly being "disrespectful". This isn't The Godfather for goodness sake.
These morons will never grow up and will never fully comprehend what they've done wrong. The general public should be protected from these psychos by making sure they never walk the streets again! This may sound harsh, but I'm so sick and tired of hearing about these poor innocent people murdered for no reason. The current system is clearly not a strong enough deterrent!
- Alex, London
When can the authorities start to control probationary orders. The penal system is not strict enough. There are 400 known burglars in Fulham but the Police cannot arrest them as there are not enough cells. If they arrested them, there would be NO crime in Fulham. This is correct, as advised by the Police Authority.
- Maggi Weller, Fulham
