05/05/2010

Young Torturers Appeal

Two brothers,who tortured two young boys in South Yorkshire, have lost their sentencing appeal .

The brothers, aged 10 and 11 at the time of the 2009 attack, were detained indefinitely in January and told they would serve a minimum of five years.

During a three-day sentencing exercise Mr Justice Keith heard how the brothers, now aged 11 and 12, lured their victims to a secluded spot and subjected them to 90 minutes of violence and sexual humiliation.

The victims, who are uncle and nephew, were choked, hit with bricks, made to eat nettles, stripped and forced to sexually abuse each other. The older boy was seriously injured when a piece of ceramic sink was dropped on his head.

Th court heard how the boys watched ultra-violent movies as part of a "toxic home life", which involved "routine aggression, violence and chaos".

Their application for permission to appeal is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal in London.

The brothers' applications will be heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice David Clarke and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones.

(LB/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 November 2012
Leveson Calls For Regulatory Body
The Leveson report has recommended a tougher form of independent self-regulation in the UK press. Lord Justice Leveson said the press had "wreaked havoc in the lives of innocent people" and called for a regulatory body that was independent of influence from politicians, the media and the government.
03 May 2005
Man has convictions quashed in Welsh family murder
A man who was jailed for life for the murder of four members of a Welsh family has had his convictions quashed.
30 September 2013
Warrington To Host New Hillsborough Inquest
The new inquest into the Hillsborough disaster will be held in Warrington, coroner Lord Justice Goldring has said. The fresh inquest into the deaths of 96 people will begin on March 31, following an order made in December when the High Court quashed the original verdicts of accidental death. Details of the venue are to be announced at a later date.
24 October 2006
Youth Justice System announce high records of young people in custody
A crisis is facing children and young people in custody, as the numbers of under 18s held in secure accommodation in England and Wales reaches a record high.
19 February 2009
MS Sufferer Loses Assisted Suicide Appeal Case
A multiple sclerosis sufferer has lost her Appeal Court case to get the law on assisted suicide clarified. Debbie Purdy, 45, wanted to know if her husband Omar Puente would be prosecuted if he helped her travel abroad to help her die.