Family of murdered dad attack 'feral youths'
A 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man were jailed over the death of Michael Eccles in January
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Friday, 02, Oct 2009 04:03
By Richard James.
The family of a father-of-five killed as he walked home from a local shop have called for the government to help stop "feral youths" terrorising communities.
A 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man were jailed today after being found guilty of killing Michael Eccles in January.
The former, Jordan Carroll, was sentenced to a minimum of 11 years behind bars, while Carl Keatley was jailed for at least 13 years.
Mr Eccles died a day after being attacked in the Dimbles area of Lichfield on Staffordshire.
Today Carroll's father - Edward Carroll, 54, from Lichfield, was also sentenced to three years in jail after the trial heard how he had tried to cover up his son's actions by washing blood-stained clothes and cleaning the 16-year-old.
The jury were told Carroll and Keatley had been drinking in a local park when they got into a "verbal exchange" with Mr Eccles as he made his way home.
The pair chased after the 43-year-old and knocked him to the ground before punching and kicking him.
The father-of-five was left with a burst eye socked, ten broken ribs plus several broken bones in his neck. He later died in hospital.
Speaking outside Birmingham crown court today, Mr Eccles' brother-in-law John Bayliss urged the government to realise that "society is broken".
"These evil people have been found guilty of murder and shown no remorse at all," he said.
"We were promised a life sentence. The only people receiving a life sentence are the family."
He added: "Until there are some serious consequences to their actions, the anti-social element will continue their reign of terror.
"Perhaps the government should concentrate on our own war on terror - a war against the feral youths that are terrorising our communities."