Murderers of Lichfield dad Michael Eccles jailed for life

Oct 2 2009 by Tom Lowe, Press Association

His head was "kicked in" after blows rained down on the front, back and both sides of his skull, prosecutor Gareth Evans QC said. The bottle of wine Mr Eccles had bought just minutes earlier was found smashed on the concrete alongside him.

Keatley, who has a prosthetic leg, and Carroll both denied murder.

Passing sentence, Judge Juckes said the young defendants had displayed "contemptuous behaviour" in attacking Mr Eccles as he made a short trip to his local Costcutter store.

"Mr Eccles, a 43-year-old with a good part of his life still left to him, went out to buy a few items. By sheer ill fate as far he was concerned, he found you, Jordan Carroll, and you, Carl Keatley, hanging around inside and outside that shop.

"You were, by that time, both extremely drunk. Jordan Carroll was something like three times over the legal limit for driving and, Carl Keatley, you were something like twice over that limit."

The judge said Mr Eccles came and spoke to the pair "because of the condition you were in", and Carroll then "lunged" at his victim.

The assault which followed left Mr Eccles with a series of "savage" injuries and the footprints of both defendants were found on Mr Eccles' body.

Judge Juckes continued: "He was repeatedly kicked and stamped. His nose was broken, his brain was caused to bleed. His left eye was stamped on.

He suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung."

The judge said a passing motorist described Carroll and Keatley as being "right in Mr Eccles' face" and then "all over him".

Outside court, Mr Eccles's family criticised the "feeble" sentences and accused the Government of failing to act against "the feral youths that are terrorising our communities".

His brother-in-law John Bayliss said: "We as a family are very disappointed with the sentences that have been passed down today. It is no surprise that innocent people are being murdered when the consequences are so feeble.

"This is not justice. These evil people have been found guilty of murder and have shown no remorse at all.