Man jailed for life for murder of Ronnie Howard
A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years and 8 months for the murder of South Shields man Ronnie Howard.
Ronnie Howard, 31, was found unconscious on Wednesday, May 4, after a disturbance inside the Prince Edward pub in Prince Edward Road, South Shields.
He was taken to hospital where he was sadly later pronounced dead.
Today, Michael Wilson, 34, of Hylton Avenue, South Shields, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 15 years and 8 months. He also pleaded guilty to affray.
David Wood, 29, of Sunderland Road, South Shields; Anthony Kenrick, 33, of Centenary Avenue, South Shields, and Paul John Haley, 27, of Ascot Gardens, South Shields, have also been jailed for assault. Wood was sentenced to 20 months, Kenrick 20 months and Haley 18 months.
Detective Inspector Alan Cairns said:"We welcome today's outcome and we hope this gives the family some closure. This has been the most difficult time for them and, with the added trauma of going through a trial, it has hugely impacted on them. But they have remained completely dignified throughout the case and I commend their bravery and composure through the most trying of circumstances. "I hope this provides some sort of solace for them and I want to stress that victims are our absolute priority and to see justice for them today is exactly what we aim to achieve." FAMILY STATEMENT Ronnie's dad said: "During the course of these last few months rumours and speculation have run riot on social media. We as a family would like the facts known to members of the public, facts made known in a court of law. "Ronnie Howard was a much loved personality, fun loving, gentle, kind hearted and generally the life and soul, much loved son, brother, cousin, uncle and his greatest achievement."