Father of Reece Cox hits out at killers who laughed during murder trial

Adam Ashwin, Wayne Burke, Shaquel Halliday, Shane Jones, Sebastian Jones and Ryan Nicklin have been jailed for a combined period of at least 95 years.

Nicklin was convicted of manslaughter but the other five were found guilty of murdering 24-year-old Reece Cox after a month-long trial.

Reece was beaten to death outside the Clifton Wetherspoon pub in Sedgley last year after he tried to break up a fight involving his friend.

The six killers were sentenced on Wednesday after a statement from Mr Cox's father was read out describing the "humiliation" of seeing the men smile while evidence was provided about his son's death.

The attack happened on the sixth anniversary of the day he had met his partner Rebecca Ball, who also described her torment in a victim impact statement read out to Wolverhampton Crown court.

"Reece was my only son, not just that, my best friend and drinking buddy," Darren Cox said.

"That Saturday we were watching football and went out for a couple of beers.

"Reece was joined by his friend and I went home. We had a call at midnight and my whole world fell apart.

"I'm lost, withdrawn and struggling, I constantly live the nightmare of that night. I'm a shadow of that man I used to be.

"Reece was a gentle giant, he was loved and respected by everyone, he adored his young son.

"He and I both longed for the day his son could come along to the Wolves game with us and we would have four generations together.

"I will have to step up and take him, while it will be my pleasure it should be his dad.

"Having to sit and watch the evidence while seeing the defendants laughing and joking has pushed my tolerance to the absolute limit. I've taken this humiliation for the past four weeks.

"These men do not belong where we live.

"I'm so proud of the support we've had from the community. No sentence will ever be enough, even with a maximum sentence they will probably have half of their lives ahead of them."

More than £11,000 was raised in the aftermath of the killing, while friends, family and neighbours left dozens of tributes and attended various community events in Mr Cox's memory.

Ashwin, 20, of Monument Lane, Sedgley; Burke, 23, of Queens Street, Pensnett; Shaquel Halliday, 23, of Shadwell Drive, Lower Gornal; Shane Jones, 26, of Orchard Grove, Lower Gornal; and Sebastian Jones, 19, of Corser Street, Dudley, were given minimum terms of between 16-and-a-half and 18 years.

Nicklin, 22, of Limes Avenue, Pensnett Nicklin was given a 12-year jail term of which he will have to serve a minimum of eight years.