Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has said “life must mean life” after the sentencing of two people for the murder of Michael Eccles.
Sixteen-year-old Jordan Carroll, of Windmill Close, will serve a minimum of 11 years in prison, while Carl Keatley, of Greencroft, must serve a minumum of 13 years.
But Mr Fabricant has insisted that for justice to be correctly served, the minimum sentences must not be applied.
The Lichfield MP explained:
“Life must mean life. I can well understand the distress of Michael’s family when the judge said that Carl Keatley must serve a minimum sentence of 13 years and Jordan Carroll, 11 years. If these ignorant and cowardly thugs walk free after the minimum sentences have been served, justice will not have been done.
“Both Keatley and Carroll, as well as others, must be made to understand that that society will not accept crimes of this nature. They have been given a life sentence as a punishment, to protect the public, and as a deterrent to others. Anything less than a life, will fail as a deterrent and will be unjust to the memory of Michael Eccles.”
During their trial, the court heard how Mr Eccles was walking back from the shops when the pair kicked and punched Mr Eccles in a vicious attack which left him with fatal injuries.
A jury took less than a day to convict their pair in at Birmingham Crown Court in August.
