Two men jailed for killing teen in Lanarkshire
Two men who killed a teenager in Lanarkshire after learning of claims that he had assaulted a teenage girl have been jailed for a total of 26 years.
Two men who killed a teenager in Lanarkshire after learning of claims that he had assaulted a teenage girl have been jailed for a total of 26 years.
Sean Banks, 18, was stabbed through the heart by Paul Kane,25, in a brutal street attack. The brute was helped by 19-year-old Liam Donnelly.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how the despicable duo acted after 16-year-old Chloe Brennan alleged that Sean had hit her.
The court heard how Brennan wanted Mr Banks battered. The two men obliged and attacked their victim, in Uddingston, in September 2015.
Kane, 25, was convicted of 18-year-old Sean's murder following a trial last month. He has 16 previous convictions which are mostly for violence.
His co accused Donnelly, of Bothwell, was found guilty of the lesser crime of culpable homicide.
Sentence was deferred for the court to obtain reports about the two men's characters.
On Tuesday, at the High Court in Edinburgh judge Lord Armstrong jailed Kane for life and told him that he'd have to serve at least 17 years before he'd be able to apply for parole.
Donnelly was ordered to be detained for nine years at a Young Offenders Institution.
Passing sentence, Lord Armstrong said he had no other option but to impose custodial sentences.
He added: "There is nothing that I can say which can compensate the family and relatives of Sean Banks for their loss.
"There is also no sentence which I can impose which will be sufficient in their eyes.
"However, there is only one sentence which I can impose in these circumstances."
During proceedings last month, Kane sparked angry scenes in the courtroom as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
He taunted the victim's friends and family by sticking up his middle finger and poking out his tongue.
Jurors had earlier heard how Brennan had called Donnelly asking him to "batter" Sean.
She also went on to speak to Kane during another call.
In evidence, Brennan said: "Paul asked if Sean had any weapons on him.
"I said someone earlier mentioned he had a knife - Paul said, 'I have a bigger one'."
Brennan thought the thug was only joking. However, Kane later called back and told her: "That's it done."
The trial heard Sean was stabbed four times after being confronted in Uddingston, last September 12.
But Kane insisted he did not strike the teenager deliberately, adding: "I can't remember stabbing him."
He went on: "I didn't mean for him to die. He kept coming at me."
Prosecutor Iain McSporran branded the killing "a brutal, unprovoked multiple stabbing".
The court was told Kane had a long history of violence.
On Tuesday, Kane's advocate Mark Stewart QC told the court that his client had displayed "insight" into his actions against Mr Banks during his interview with court appointed social workers.
He added: "He appreciates the gravity of the offence to which he has been convicted of and I would ask your lordship to exercise whatever leniency is available.
"Mr Kane knows a custodial sentence is inevitable."
Donnelly's lawyer Tony Graham told the court that his client also accepted that he would be sent to prison.
He also told the court that Donnelly had a good work and educational record.
Mr Graham added: "He has contributed to society as opposed to have been a burden on society."
The two accused were also convicted of assaulting another boy at earlier proceedings. Kane was given two years for this offence whilst Donnelly was given three years.
Both sentences will be served concurrently with the terms imposed for the death of Mr Banks.