Three men handed life sentences after murdering Herefordshire man in his own back garden

The three men were sentenced at Worcester Crown Court.

Author: Tom FeahenyPublished 24th Mar 2023

Three men have given life sentences after the murder of a 51-year-old man in Kington, Herefordshire.

Their minimum terms will be:

Luke Bellis: Minimum 17 and a half years less 388 days of held on remand

John Lock: Minimum 17 years

Ajay Price: Minimum of 15 years less 473 days spent on remand

This is after on Friday 2 December 2021, Carl Dyche, who was from Kington was involved in "a completely unprovoked attack" in his back garden.

Police say on the night of the attack, three men climbed over the back gate to Carl's garden where they set about assaulting him with sustained and repeated blows.

His wife and step son witnessed the attack, attempting to intervene.

Dyche died in hospital three days later.

A unanimous guilty verdict a Worcester Crown Court ruled that Ajay Price 21, Luke Bellis, 30, and John Lock, 35 were responsible.

John lock, Luke Bellis, Ajay Price who were found guilty at Worcester Crown Court© West Mercia Police

The three men- who lived in and around Kington.

Speaking after they had been found guilty, Detective Inspector Chris Percival, who led the police investigation, said Dyche was "senselessly beaten in a brutal and unmotivated attack in front of his wife and young step son".

He said: "Both provided evidence to help reach a guilty verdict, an incredibly difficult task for grieving families, especially those who witnessed this harrowing event in person."

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