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Life for ‘cruel and heartless’ killers
A JUDGE this week slammed the “cruel and heartless” killers of a man on a housing estate.
The murder of Philip “Tinker” Armstrong, which brought a “wall of silence” from terrified witnesses, landed two of his attackers with life sentences.
Old Bailey Judge Martin Stephens, QC, told them: “This was a cowardly and brutal attack – a dreadful crime. It will revolt any right-thinking member of the community.”
The 40-year-old victim was lured to a stairwell and stabbed in cold blood, because he was suspected of stealing a mobile phone belonging to a girl of 13. His attackers had shown “no remorse or regret”, Judge Stephens added.
Musician Jamal Dyce, 19, and Curtis Henry-Seabourne, 22, were convicted by a jury of the murder on September 12, 2006, at Besant Court on the Newington Green estate where they both lived.
Dyce, of Congrieve House, must serve a minimum 12 years, and Henry-Seabourne, of Hathersage Court, thirteen-and-a-half years. They had denied the murder charge.
Det Inspector Peter Basnett said: “This was a planned attack with knives and a man lost his life for the sake of a mobile phone.“
His praise for a vital witness who gave evidence was echoed by the victim’s brother, Joseph, who said: “I wish to publicly thank the brave people who did eventually come forward. Without their support justice would not have been done.”
Two others allegedly involved are to face a new trial after the jury failed to agree verdicts. |
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