Andrew William Birch, 29, lured wedding guest James Marshall back to his home and repeatedly hit him over the head with a pickaxe as he slept.
Birch, who had been the best man at his brother Nick's wedding, claimed Mr Marshall, 20, had made disrespectful comments to the groom in a joke.
Isn’t that the
best man’s job, in his speech? No wonder he was miffed!
Birch, who has been labelled a "danger" by the Probation Service, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
And what did he get, for this premeditated attack?
The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, sentenced Birch to four years in prison.
Judge Mettyear said: "It is difficult to know what caused you to act in the way that you did. It seems some sort of deranged, drunken thoughts were going through your mind."
Well, quite!
Judge Mettyear told Birch if he was ever violent again, he would get a life sentence.
Which is strange, because – of course – he’s been violent
before:
Birch has previous convictions for burglary and affray and once assaulted a woman in his house with a knife.
*sigh*
See what I mean? Common law crimes just don't matter any more.
ReplyDeleteWell .. when all's said & done, it is Hull ..
ReplyDeleteIf god ever decided to give the world an enema .. Hull is where he'd stick the nozzle ..
The Captain is going to love Angry People in Local papers today, then.
ReplyDeleteThe link is on the sidebar.
@ WOAR ...
ReplyDeleteArghhhhhh ... mind & eye bleach .. please !
"Judge Mettyear told Birch if he was ever violent again, he would get a life sentence."
ReplyDeleteRemind me, is a life sentence longer or shorter than four years ?
Am I alone in thinking there is more to the words 'lured him back' and that perhaps this attack was motivated by guilt- or rejection?
ReplyDelete"See what I mean? Common law crimes just don't matter any more."
ReplyDeleteDepressingly so..
"Well .. when all's said & done, it is Hull .."
From that, Hell and Halifax, the good Lord deliver us! :)
"The Captain is going to love Angry People in Local papers today, then."
Ahhh, yes! I've got a post on that one coming up today.
"Remind me, is a life sentence longer or shorter than four years ?"
Heh! Maybe 'justice' is now calculated in dog years?
"Am I alone in thinking there is more to the words 'lured him back'..."
Gawds knows! It does indicate clear premeditation though...