First 21 Bereaved Families Get The Choice To Speak In Murder Cases - Harriet Harman

1 Mar 2007 04:00 AM

EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01, 1 MARCH 2007

The criminal courts have broken new ground as families thrust into the criminal justice system by the murder or manslaughter of a relative have taken up the opportunity to speak in court about the crime.

Over the past 10 months, 21 families have asked the court to hear what the homicide victim was like and what their loss has meant. It's given the offender, the trial judge, barristers, the police, prosecutors and the public an opportunity, for the first time, to understand the crime from the perspective of the victim's relatives.

The first 21 cases are from an experimental scheme that began in April 2006 at five Crown courts - the Old Bailey, Birmingham, Manchester Crown Square, Cardiff and Winchester. All families in homicide cases in these courts are being asked if they would like to make a statement in court, or write it and have a lawyer or other person read it out, after conviction, but before sentencing.

Seventeen statements have been read out at the trial, with four families asking the judge to read their statement in private.

Constitutional Affairs Minister Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP said:

"Prior to this scheme, many families in homicide cases told me they felt gagged in court; that everybody would speak - the judge, prosecution and defence lawyers and even passers-by as witnesses to the crime. "The only people who would never have a chance to say anything in court were the people who actually cared most about the person killed.

"Allowing the victims' relatives to speak in court is about the criminal justice system being prepared to listen and learn from those most directly affected by the most serious of all crimes. It is about giving the family a dignified moment to actually say what the crime has meant to them.

"If the pilot proves successful, the Government will consider extending to other crimes. Murder and manslaughter were chosen for the pilot courts as there is never a victim to speak at the trial."

Notes to editors:

1. The choice for a bereaved family to make a victims advocate statement has been piloted since April 2006 and follows publication of a consultation paper - Hearing the Relatives of Murder and Manslaughter Victims - in 2005. The consultation period ran from 1 September to 30 November 2005. The Government received 87 responses to the consultation.

2. Copies of the consultation paper Hearing the Relatives of Murder and Manslaughter Victims and a summary of responses are available from the Trial Policy and Procedure Unit, Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ground Floor, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF, or by telephone - 020 7035 4973. It can also be downloaded from http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk and http://www.dca.gov.uk

3. Murder and manslaughter cases heard in the pilot area Crown courts since 2002 as follows:

2002/3 2003/4 2004/5

Birmingham 54 31 56

Cardiff 12 14 19

The Old Bailey 163 216 241

Manchester - 53 51 52
Crown Square

Winchester 38 30 26

4. Summary of cases where families chose to give a statement

R v Rodolfo Detecio Juanga, Winchester Crown Court

On 22 September 2006, Rodolfo Detecio Juanga pleaded guilty to the murder of Joel Jagatin Tagaan on board the Queen Mary 2 on 12 May 2006.

The case was heard in Winchester because the Queen Mary 2 was registered at Southampton. Juanga admitted murder on the high seas on 27 July 2006. The victim had been attacked with a hammer while he was sitting eating a meal in the crew canteen while the ship was at sea 70 miles off the Dutch coast.

Mr Tagaan's wife, Eugenia Tagaan chose for her statement to be delivered in court by the prosecutor, Chief Crown Prosecutor Nick Hawkins. Judge Michael Broderick sentenced Juanga to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 13 years.

Quote from the statement:

'I make this statement in order to assist the court in understanding the emotional and financial impact that the sudden death of my husband [Joel Tagaan] has had on myself, our children and his elderly parents, and to give some details about my husband.

'Joel and I had a very happy marriage; we did not like being separated for the long periods [of his work on ships] but had wonderful family times when Joel was home. He was the best and kindest husband and a very caring and loving father to his [two] children.'

R v Thomas Pearson, Cardiff Crown Court
On 22 September 2006, Thomas Pearson admitted to the murder of his girlfriend, Joy Wilkinson on 9 May 2006.

On 9 May, Pearson, who was four times over the legal driving limit, stabbed Joy Wilkinson with a bread knife while she was asleep. He then went next door and told his neighbours what he had done. Police had been called to Joy Wilkinson's flat in Maindee, Newport, during previous violent incidents. Ms Wilkinson was said to be preparing to leave Pearson, who had problems with alcohol abuse and was unemployed, to move in with her sister.

Patricia Nelson, Joy's mother, delivered her statement in court before sentencing, supported by the prosecutor, Nicholas Gareth Jones.

Judge Roderick Evans sentenced Pearson on 28 September 2006 to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 12 years.

Quote from the statement:

'On 8 May 2006, Joy, my daughter was alive. On 9 May 2006, she had been stabbed into [sic] her heart and was dead - murdered. I was also murdered that day.

My heart was broken even more when Kay [Joy's sister] and I told our precious grandchildren. The sadness that came into that living room from those innocent children was beyond compare. [Darnell, Kay's eldest son, 10] has still got that devastatingly sad look in his eyes when we talk of our Joy.'

R v Michael Farley, Cardiff Crown Court

On 4 October 2006, Michael Farley pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife, Shirley Farley, on grounds of diminished responsibility, on 14 June 2006.

On 15 June 2006, Michael Farley was charged with Shirley's murder and subsequently "sectioned" under section 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Reports prepared by medical experts for the prosecution and the defence recommended that Michael Farley plead guilty to manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility. Michael Farley was being treated for prostate cancer at the time and was deemed to be suffering from a depressive illness as a result of the medication he was taking.

On the evening of 14 June 2006, Michael Farley telephoned 999 to inform Gwent Police that he had killed his wife. On arrival at his home, the police found him in the bath, having tried to kill himself by stabbing himself in the heart, and his wife was discovered dead in the living room. Farley was taken to hospital, where, both then and in interview, he admitted that he had killed his wife. He was unable to describe how he had done so.

The statement was delivered in court before sentencing by the Farley's daughter, Claire Belcher, supported by prosecution counsel.

Judge Nigel Davis sentenced Mr Farley to a hospital order at a psychiatric clinic.

Quote from the statement:

'We were blessed with the most wonderful, caring, supportive, loving, giving, understanding and encouraging parents. They were all our worlds and we were theirs. They just knew us inside and out and when you ask what impact mum's death has had on us - how can we answer? It's devastating - it's tragic - it's heartbreaking - our world has fallen apart - we have lost the most wonderful mum, who has left a whole so big, nothing will ever be the same again.'

R v Darryl Tuzzio, Birmingham Crown Court

On 5 October 2006, Darryl Tuzzio was found guilty of the manslaughter of Aliesha Begum, 6, who died as a result of an arson attack on her home on 10 March 2006.

Tuzzio's co-defendant, Hussain Ahmed, accused of plotting the fire that killed Aliesha victim, was acquitted on charges of murder, attempted murder.

Aliesha's brother, Abdul Hamid, had started a relationship with Ahmed's sister, whose family disapproved. Within 24 hours of Mr Hamid receiving a threatening telephone call, a garage's CCTV captured Tuzzio filling a can with fuel and, two hours later, shortly before midnight on 10 March 2006, a masked figure burst through the front door and sprayed petrol in the hallway of the victim's home before lighting a match. The blaze spread up the stairs and family members had to jump from an upstairs window. Aliesha, was found in her bunk bed by firefighters and died at Birmingham Children's Hospital the following day.

Before the trial started Abdul Mumin, Aleisha's other brother, indicated that he wished to make a victims' advocate statement on behalf of his parents. It was read out by the prosecutor.

Quote from the statement:

'We are all totally devastated by the murder of our sister [Aliesha]; we are still traumatised. It is not just the fact that Aliesha was murdered. It is the horrible and cruel way in which she died. I think about it all the time and I know that my family do [sic] too. It damaged our lives... in many ways. It is so hard. The home will never be the same again. There will always be my little sister missing. My father, my family and I want the court to make the persons responsible pay, especially for the horrible death they have caused to my sister. It is right that they do pay for the price for their wrongdoing.'

Mr Tuzzio was sentenced to eight years. The judge ordered that four years will be spent in a young offender's institute and the remaining four will be on licence.

R v Jose Masache, Old Bailey

On 20 October 2006, Jose Masache pleaded guilty to the murder of Johnny Bracamonte on 5 May 2006.

Masache, a 22-year-old chef, attacked Johnny Bracamonte, a 30-year-old part-time chef and cleaner, in Tooting High Street. Mr Bracamonte later died in hospital from multiple stab wounds. Mr Bracamonte knew Masache, and they were seen fighting each other shortly before the murder.

Mr Bracamonte's brother, Juan Jose Bracamonte, read the victims advocate statement. He requested that the statement should be passed to the judge to read to herself before sentence. Mr Bracamonte was advised that the defendant was likely to plead guilty and he indicated that he did not wish to amend the statement in event of a guilty plea. He is currently living in Spain and was unable to travel to attend the hearing as he has spent time in the United Kingdom as an illegal immigrant. No members of the victim's family were present at the hearing. The judge confirmed that she had read the statement and the defendant's counsel was given the opportunity to do so.

Masache was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years.

R v Birch and Ali, Manchester Crown Square

On 2 November 2006, Dawn Birch and Abdul Malik Ali were sentenced after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Frederick Goodman on 19 April 2006, following the close of the prosecution case for murder.

On 19 April 2006, police officers discovered the body of Frederick Goodman, a 62-year old former window cleaner, at his home. Mr Goodman had died approximately three weeks before. He had befriended Dawn Birch, who lived with him. Unknown to him, Dawn Birch was conducting a relationship with Abdul Malik Ali. It was the Crown's case that Mr Goodman had been bound and gagged and had violence inflicted upon him, and that they were guilty of murder.

Following the closing of the case for the prosecution on 1 November, the defence indicated that it was willing to plead guilty to manslaughter, pleas the Crown accepted. Before sentencing, a victims advocate statement written by the victim's sister, Pauline Clements, and was read out by junior prosecution counsel.

Birch and Ali were each sentenced to ten years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Frederick Goodman.

Quote from the statement:

'Everybody is stressed, everybody falling out with each other, it's ripping our family apart. Because of what you did to Freddie, you have left our heads in bits, our hearts ripped out, our nerves in tatters.'

R v Johnson, Hayles & another, Old Bailey

On 1 December 2006, Nathan Johnson and Hayles were found guilty of the murder of Mohammed Ashraf on 22 October 2005.

The defendants knew Mr Ashraf. At the trial, it was the prosecution's case that he was killed for his £700 car after meeting a man who said he wanted to buy it. He was found slumped on the steering wheel of his car with 18 knife wounds.

The widow and brother of the victim chose to give separate victims advocate statements. Prosecution counsel Anthony Leonard read from both statements. Judge Morris QC highlighted one passage from the wife's statement that had been summarised in court, and read the three-line passage to the court.

Judge Morris sentenced Johnson and Hayles to life imprisonment, with minimum terms of 17 years minus 400 days and 17 years minus 397 days spent in custody respectively.

R v Chambers, Cardiff Crown Court

On 26 October 2006, Robert Chambers pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of
Paul Barnes on 21 July 2006.

On 9 July 2006, a car belonging to Paul Barnes was vandalised. An hour afterwards, he went to confront some children who he believed were responsible. Mr Barnes put one of the boys into a headlock. Another boy, Chambers, then hit Mr Barnes. Mr Barnes fell backwards onto the road and lay motionless.

Mr Barnes was admitted to hospital later than evening with an acute subdural haematoma and a fractured skull. He was certified dead on the afternoon of 21 July.

After the incident, Chambers walked away but after talking to his mother, he returned and presented himself to the police. He pleaded guilty at his plea and case management hearing on 26 October, at which point, the hearing was adjourned for a psychiatric report.

Judge John Griffith Williams sentenced Chambers to two-and-a-half years in detention.

In this case, the statement was not read out. After consultation with the family, details of the statement were incorporated in the prosecution opening statement.

Quote from the prosecution statement:
'I felt that I had lost everything and that someone had ripped me apart'.

'The loss of an only child in this way is the most horrendous thing I can imagine and has left me angry and bitter towards the person or people responsible for taking away so much from Paul, Kieran, myself, his brothers and the rest of the family, his friends and neighbours. I am dreading Christmas.'

R v Borland and others, Birmingham Crown Court
On 19 December 2006, Neville Borland was found guilty of the manslaughter of Marlvine Jiro on 29 May 2006. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in respect of co-defendants Edwards and Richards.

On 29 May at 3am, Marlvine Jiro, a disc jockey at the Gem Club in Hockley, was stabbed after he left the premises. It was reported that he and two friends were following a car they thought was being driven by some ladies they had met at the club who had said they could take them to a local party. It was reported that along the way the car in front stopped and the driver and his friends asked Marlvine why he was following them. This resulted in an altercation and the stabbing of the victim.

Following the killing, the police charged three offenders, Christopher Antonio Edwards, Paul Andrew Richards, and Borland, on 6 June.

Following the verdict, a victims advocate statement by the twin sister of Marlvine, Maryline Jiro, was read out by prosecution counsel James Wood.

The judge sentenced Borland to 10 years in prison.

Quote from the statement:

'Our parents, Edson, 84 years of age, and Phoebe, 67, are devastated by the death of their youngest son and can't understand why they have had to bury their youngest child.'

'I miss Marlvine very much. He was very important to me, he was a loving and caring brother.'

R v McLeish, Old Bailey

On 6 December 2006, Darrell McLeish pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of David Rodway. The victim was stabbed in head with a screwdriver during a fight outside a pub.

At a sentencing hearing on 15 December, a victim advocate statement prepared by David Rodway's mother was read out to the court by prosecution counsel Anthony Orchard.

The defendant was sentenced to a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a restriction order.

Quote from the statement:

'The loss of my son and Lee's brother has hit us very hard.'

The loss of David has also affected his brother, Lee, my son. David was not only his brother but also a very good friend. David always acted in his role as the older brother, always looking out for his younger brother.'

R v Grass, Manchester Crown Square Crown Court

On 8 December 2006, Peter Grass was convicted of the murder of his landlord, William Kenyon, who he shot after the farmer ordered him to leave the cottage he lived in on Mr Kenyon's farm.

Before sentencing, a statement written by the victim's 15-year-old daughter was read out by another relative.

Mr Justice Henriques sentenced him to life imprisonment with the recommendation that he serve a minimum of 26 years. Mr Justice Henriques, accepting the relationship between the two men, who had been friends for 12 years, commented: "He was acting entirely within his rights, but I find it was hugely stressful for you. But you shot him in a cowardly and shocking attack."

Quote from the statement:

'I loved my dad very much, he was a quiet man but when we were together I saw a different side to him that others didn't. My dad was funny; he made me laugh, I would laugh at the things he did, he was kind, he would do anything for me and he was really loving'.

'My dad won't be able to take me down the aisle if I get married and he won't see any children I may have, he won't be there to help me with any problems I have.'

R v Robertson, Manchester Crown Square Court

On 20 December 2006, Mark Robertson was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Lee Pickles, with a recommendation to serve a minimum of 21 years. He was also sentenced to 11 and 13 years for two counts of assault on two men he stabbed at the same time, and three years for perverting the course of justice.

Statements by Lee Pickles' mother, Denise, and his girlfriend, Yvonne Davenport, were read out at the sentencing hearing.

On 2 June 2006, Lee Pickles and seven friends were invited to a house party in Heywood, Manchester. Some time after midnight, a fight broke out which involved Robertson, Lee Pickles and four other men. Robertson lunged at Mr Pickles with a large knife, and then struck two other men who suffered slash injuries to their heads.

All three victims ran from the flat and were taken to hospital. The two men who sustained head injuries were treated and then discharged. Lee Pickles remained in hospital and died during the evening of 3 June.

Police launched a murder investigation and Mark Robertson handed himself in at Rochdale police station on 7 June. He was charged with murder and two counts of section 18 wounding on 9 June and remanded in custody. However, whilst in prison he proceeded to intimidate witnesses to the crime.

Quote from the statement:

'I don't think we will ever get over this tragedy. Lee was a larger than life character who was loved by a lot of people, so not only will he be missed by all his family, he will also be missed by lots of his friends too'.

R v Teixeira, Old Bailey

On 5 January 2007, Sidonio Teixeira pleaded guilty at his plea and case management hearing at the Old Bailey to the murder of his three-year-old daughter and the attempted murder of his nine-year-old son.

Prosecution counsel, Mr Crispin Aylett, read the statement, prepared by the children's mother, in full to the court at the end of the prosecution opening.

On 8 January, Judge Stephens QC sentenced Teixeira to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years for murder minus 187 days spent in custody and 12 years' imprisonment for attempted murder, to run concurrently.

R v Buckley, Buckley and Wyatt, Manchester Crown Square

On 1 December 2006, Jonathon Buckley and Michael Wyatt pleaded guilty to manslaughter and burglary. Buckley's sister also pleaded guilty to burglary.

On 19 July 2006, Buckley and Wyatt had entered the house of Samuel Marshall, aged 66, and stole medicine, a mobile telephone and money. They accepted that the shock of the burglary subsequently caused Mr Marshall to collapse. He died of brain damage brought on by a heart attack shortly before 1am the following morning.

Buckley and Wyatt were each sentenced on 12 January 2007 to seven years' imprisonment for manslaughter and five years for burglary, to run concurrently. Rebecca Buckley received a 12-month detention and training order.

Before sentencing, a statement prepared by the victim's daughter, Julie Hyland, was read out on behalf of the family.

R v Saleh, Old Bailey

On 17 January 2007, Omar Saleh was convicted of the murder of his wife, Hodan, after taking hallucinogenic drug khat.

Before sentencing, Mr Duncan Penny, junior prosecution counsel, delivered a statement, written by the victim's father, to the court, after the judge confirmed that the father of the victim, a Somali speaker, was content for it to be read in English. Defence counsel, Ms Jane Humphryes [correct], made no reference to the statement in mitigation.

Judge Morris QC then proceeded to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment with the recommendation that he serve a minimum term of 13 years minus the 267 days already spent on remand. In his sentencing remarks, the judge referred briefly to the statement.

R v Bilal, Manchester Crown Square

On 7 February 2007, Shukri Bilal, a refugee from Somalia, was convicted of the murder of her neighbour, Lisa Bamford, on 22 August 2006. That evening, Miss Bamford and the defendant had an argument that became aggressive, with an exchange of punches. Bilal returned to her home, got a kitchen knife, and entered Miss Bamford's home. She was heard to shout, "I am going to kill you all," and walked over to Miss Bamford and stabbed her in the neck. She then attempted to attack the other people in the room but was removed from the house. Miss Bamford was pronounced dead on arrival at Oldham Royal Hospital.

After the verdict, prosecution counsel delivered statements on behalf of the victim's mother and the victim's partner.

Quote from the statements:

Her mother's statement said: 'She was one of the most loving, caring and faithful persons anyone would wish to meet. She showed no mercy or remorse... Lisa will always be in our hearts and we have many loving memories of our times together.'

Her partner's statement said: 'Lisa helped Shukri so much. We gave her furniture and other items to help her set up home... Lisa did not deserve to die in this way... She was a good, kind person who touched so many people's lives.'

R v Stone, Cardiff Crown Court

On 9 February 2007, Michael Stone was sentenced for the murder of David Jones in June 2006. David Jones had gone to Stone's house to try to resume a relationship with his ex-girlfriend who was living there. He was carrying a crook lock, and attacked Stone. Stone had been peeling potatoes and retaliated with the potato knife he was carrying, stabbing Mr Jones in the side of the neck. Mr Jones was able to drive himself home but died three days later.

Before sentencing, a statement on behalf of the victim's mother was read out by prosecution counsel.

Quote from the statement:

'There are no words to express how I feel at losing my only son. It just hurts so much. This has destroyed my life and robbed his children of a loving father... Every time the phone rings, I think it's David, then I remember and my heart breaks again. I look at his photo every day... The way David died was unnatural, cruel and abhorrent. This has shattered our family. His three children have been left without a loving father.'

At the hearing, Stone admitted manslaughter. Judge John Griffith Williams told him, 'the evidence is clear that you pose a serious risk to the public. You will not be released until it is considered you no longer pose a serious risk of harm to the public,' and sentenced him to imprisonment for four years and eight months. The court heard Stone had previous convictions for rape and assault.

R v Grocock, Stanway and Cheetham, Manchester Crown Square

On 9 February 2007, Peter Grocock, George Stanway, and Michael Cheetham were sentenced for the murder of Anthony Marsh on 12 June 2006. After a day of heavy drinking, the defendants decided to go to the victim's flat to 'teach him a lesson' regarding a disagreement over a small amount of missing monies. They went to his bedroom and attacked him while he lay on his bed. In need of urgent medical attention, Stanway instead strangled Marsh with a towel. At the hearing, Stanway pleaded guilty to the murder of Marsh, while Grocock and Cheetham pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Before sentencing, the judge privately read in statement written by the victim's mother. However, it was later reported that she has said 'I feel I have been cheated out of many happy years with Tony. He may have died from alcoholism at some point, but this would have been from illness, not by some low life persons. His death is something that is with me all the time, every single day. My family can never forgive these men. Tony's daughter, Charlotte, has lost her dad whom she loved very much. Tony may have been an alcoholic but he was decent. These animals responsible for his death were obviously bad to the core. I hoped they are punished by the justice system, but more importantly I hope they are punished by their thoughts and it haunts them every day.'

Mr Justice Beatson then sentenced Stanway to life imprisonment with the recommendation that he serve a minimum of 15 years, and Grocock and Cheetham to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment each.

R v Adam-Smith, Central Criminal Court

On 12 February 2007, Malachi Adam-Smith was sentenced for the manslaughter of Naqibullah Aman on 26 April 2006. He had absconded from a psychiatric unit, to which he had been admitted after experiencing a psychotic episode brought on by his long-term use of smoking cannabis, during two hours of unsupervised leave. He stole a van and caused a series of accidents, culminating in knocking the victim off his bicycle.

Before sentencing, counsel Simon Denison delivered a statement, written by the victim's wife, to the court.

Judge Kramer QC told Adam-Smith that it was accepted that he suffered a transient psychotic episode, but that he was no longer mentally ill. He said, 'you pose a significant risk to members of the public. You deliberately caused the death of a totally innocent man, a father.'

The judge then proceeded to sentence the defendant to an indeterminate sentence for public protection with a minimum of three years and four months to be served minus the 190 days already spent in custody. The judge briefly referred to the statement in his sentencing remarks.

R v Ross, Central Criminal Court

On 20 February 2007, Kelly Ross pleaded guilty to the murder of Tracy Meade on 31 May 2006. She had formed a relationship with Patrick Dawkins after babysitting for Tracy Meade, but Mr Dawkins had been in a relationship with Ms Meade who had told him that she believed she was expecting his child, and gave him an ultimatum of 1 June to end his relationship with Ross. Ross phoned Ms Meade and they drove to a row of secluded garages where she stabbed the victim twice in the heart with a kitchen knife. She then went to the cinema to watch a film with Mr Dawkins, but confessed to her aunt the next day.

Judge Gordon told Ross, 'nothing can detract from the chilling horror of your offence. You were just not capable, until it was far too late, of understanding the full horror of what you were doing. This was a killing out of jealousy and to keep your man, as you saw it.'

Before sentencing, prosecution counsel passed to the judge two statements, written by the victim's mother and father. The family had requested that the statement not be read out to the court.

Judge Gordon then proceeded to sentence the defendant to a minimum prison term of 10 years and six months minus the 265 days already spent in custody. The judge briefly referred to the statement in his sentencing remarks.

After the sentence, the victim's father said, 'This has been devastating, we have lost our daughter and her daughters have lost a much-loved mother. Words cannot describe the pain.'

R v Dhillon, Central Criminal Court

On 23 February 2007, Jagjit Dhillon was sentenced for the manslaughter of Kevin Danaher on 7 May 2006. They had known each other for 14 years and had been out on a pub crawl in Harrow. After consuming alcohol and cocaine Dhillon agreed to drive Mr Danaher and his stepdaughter to a restaurant, but a heated argument developed in the car when Mr Danaher tried to snatch Dhillon's mobile telephone during a call. Mr Danaher ordered Dhillon to pull the car over and a struggle began. Mr Danaher suffered five serious stab would and other minor cuts. Dhillon claimed that Mr Danaher had threatened to shoot him, and he believed Mr Danaher was trading in guns and that he was armed, and that he had to defend himself. On 30 January 2007, Dhillon was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

ENDS.