Murderer gets life sentence
A killer who butchered a Dudley pensioner with a vegetable cutter and gas canister was today starting a life sentence for his "sadistic, gratuitous and sustained violence." A killer who butchered a Dudley pensioner with a vegetable cutter and gas canister was today starting a life sentence for his "sadistic, gratuitous and sustained violence." Philip John Evans, pictured, aged 36, of Osprey Drive, Dudley, yawned as he was told yesterday that he would serve at least 18 years in prison for the murder of 66-year-old Joshua Miller. Philip Tolley, aged 46, of Duncan Edwards Close, Dudley, and Trevor Bate, 32, of Holland Street, Bilston, were convicted of manslaughter for their part in the killing of Mr Miller at his Wellington Road flat in January. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
Philip John Evans, aged 36, pictured right, of Osprey Drive, Dudley, yawned as he was told yesterday that he would serve at least 18 years in prison for the murder of 66-year-old Joshua Miller, below.
Philip Tolley, aged 46, of Duncan Edwards Close, Dudley, and Trevor Bate, 32, of Holland Street, Bilston, were convicted of manslaughter for their part in the killing of Mr Miller at his Wellington Road flat in January.
Sitting at Stafford Crown Court, Mr Justice Adrian Fulford said: "What happened in Mr Miller's home can only be described as sadistic, gratuitous and sustained violence. "I'm left in no doubt that Evans took the lead in the sadistic nature of this attack and he orchestrated the way it developed."
Mr Justice Fulford sentenced Bate to 10 years, saying he was led by others but had made no effort to stop the attack and even joined in with kicks and blows of his own.
Sentencing Tolley to 12 years, Mr Justice Fulford said: "You bear a heavy moral and criminal responsibility for having instigated and encouraged this attack."
The judge said Mr Miller had a "blameless character" and called his death "untimely and appalling. Mr Miller's relatives said they hoped the verdicts would end a painful chapter in the family's history.
Lorraine Tolley, aged 50, of Duncan Edwards Close, and Amy Pearson, 19, of Osprey Drive were both found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Lorraine Tolley received an 18-month sentence, while Pearson's sentencing was adjourned.
Two other defendants, Philip and Susan Cooper, formerly of the Hearty Goodfellow pub, in Maughan Street, were cleared of charges of perverting the course of justice.
By Mark Walsh
