27/08/2008

Brothers Jailed For 'Sickening' Murder Over Necklace

A brutal killing which followed a drug and alcohol-fuelled night out for three friends has been recalled in court.

A row broke out and one man in the group accused another of stealing his gold necklace and things escalated from there to end in a shocking murder.

This week, two brothers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the "sickening" murder of the 'friend' who they had falsely accused of stealing the necklace.

Carl Barry Wheal, 36 of Lensbury Way, Abbey Wood and his brother Gary Lee Wheal, 28 of Timothy House, Kale Road, Thamesmead were found guilty on 15 August of the murder of Mark Evans.

The judge today ordered that they should serve a minimum of 15 years before being considered for parole.

Homicide and Serious Crime Command, based at Lewisham conducted the investigation which led to the convictions.

Mr Evans, 44, was found by police on 11 October outside Timothy House in Kale Rd, Thamesmead, suffering with stab wounds.

He was taken to Royal London Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of the next day.

A post mortem examination showed he died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

The court heard that all three men had been together that evening and had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs with others. A row broke out and one man accused Mr Evans of stealing his gold necklace.

Mr Evans managed to leave the premises but the Wheal brothers followed him and attacked him with a knife.

It later emerged that the man had not been wearing the necklace and it was at his home.

DI Mark Dunne said: "The level of violence used against the victim is hard to believe. They stabbed him over and over again, even after he was evidently not in a state to be able to get up from the floor.

"It was a sickening attack on a defenceless man, fuelled by excessive use of alcohol and drugs.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mark Evans who have heard the sickening details of this case. They will be reassured to know these two men will be safely locked away for a long time."

(DS)

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