Murderers of Lichfield dad Michael Eccles jailed for life

Oct 2 2009 by Tom Lowe, Press Association

A 16-year-old boy and a man were jailed for life today for murdering a Staffordshire father-of-five in a savage street attack.

Carl Keatley, 21, was jailed for a minimum of 13 years and teenager Jordan Carroll for at least 11 years for the murder of Michael Eccles in Lichfield in January.

The killers, both from Lichfield, were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court in August after the 43-year-old died in hospital from horrific injuries.

Jurors heard that factory worker Mr Eccles was left with a burst eye socket, 10 broken ribs and broken bones in his neck following the attack just yards from his front door, in the Dimbles area of the city, on January 25.

Judge Robert Juckes QC also jailed Carroll's father, Edward, for three years for perverting the course of justice by attempting to cover up the crime.

The trial heard that Carroll's mother, Sandra Carroll, turned the teenager in to the authorities after her estranged husband tried to destroy forensic evidence by washing their son's clothes and body.

Edward Carroll, 55, of Windmill Close, Lichfield, was convicted in August after his wife gave evidence against him and their son during a two-week trial.

Mr Eccles died in hospital on January 26, a day after the assault, which prosecutors described as needless, senseless and brutal.

Jordan Carroll, also of Windmill Close, and Keatley, of Greencroft, Lichfield, attacked Mr Eccles after spending much of the day drinking vodka in a nearby park.

The earlier court hearing was told they followed him from a parade of shops before kicking, punching and stamping on their victim, leaving him lying on the pavement with horrific injuries.