Sentence upheld for man who murdered friend in cocaine-fuelled rage
A killer who brutally murdered a former friend in a cocaine-fuelled rage has been told by top judges that his 19-year jail sentence was richly deserved.
Adam George Buckley, aged 29, was found guilty of murdering Oliver Mee and sentenced in 2009.
Buckley of Ethel Street, Smethwick, had appealed against the length of his sentence at the Court of Appeal.
His barrister Stephen Field argued during the hearing that the jail sentence did not take into consideration his young age and lack of previous violence, and a depressive illness.
But the appeal was thrown out by Lord Justice Davis who described the killing as 'brutal'.
During the hearing Lord Justice Davis said Buckley attacked Mr Mee, 24, when the latter arrived at his house to collect some cocaine in June 2007. Buckley was noticeably high and, when mocked by Mr Mee for that, violence erupted.
Mr Mee was left with 40 separate wounds, 20 of them inflicted with a hammer.
Later, when Buckley's mother's partner arrived home, he launched another brutal attack, bludgeoning the man repeatedly with the tool.
Mr Atkins staggered into the street and police were called, but Buckley did not stop there, instead going to a nearby bungalow and attacking Mrs Walker.
Despite her pleas for him to stop, he repeatedly thrust at her with a knife, going to the kitchen to get another when his first weapon bent.
Eventually, police were able to barge through the door and he was arrested.
His defence at the original trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court was 'diminished responsibility', but the jury found him guilty and he was jailed.
But Lord Justice Davis, sitting with Mrs Justice Andrews and Sir Colin Mackay, rejected the appeal bid at the hearing on Wednesday, saying:
"This was an appalling incident, involving the brutal murder of a young man who was the friend of the applicant, and serious incidents of attempted murder.
"We do not consider the minimum term of 19 years can be described even as severe."
Buckley was also found guilty of possessing drugs and trying to kill his mother's partner, John Atkins, and a neighbour, Frances Walker.
After losing his appeal, he will only be freed after serving the 19-year term if the Parole Board is sure he is safe for release.
