SENTENCE PASSED ON FATHER AND SON.
SENTENCE was passed today on a father and son, following their attack on Luke Berry in early September 2007. Alan David Alec Burns, 58 yrs old and his son Wayne David Burns, 38 yrs, appeared for sentencing today at Winchester Crown Court, after being found guilty by a jury.
The father and son attacked one of Alan’s co-workers at “Clear Water”, a drainage company, following Alan and Luke having a heated arguement. The defence for Alan, Miss. Duncan, put forward her case that the attack on luke was very out of character and she repeated a quote made by Alan’s partner who said “he’s a working man, used to sorting out problems in his own way.” she also said that this normally meant staying within the law. Justice George.T.Longbotham, who was residing over the sentencing today said that considering his age, health and clear record for previous offences, that he was inclined to give “a suspended sentence in the circumstances”.
Given the fact that Alan didn’t instigate the attack, and that he had no previous record, Justice Longbotham gave him a suspended sentence of 32 weeks, with a 2 year suspension and 120 hrs unpaid work. Wayne was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, with an extended licence order of 15 months, neither were made to pay compensation to Mr.Berry.
Although it was Alan who gave the final blow to Luke; a kick to the head, which subsequently knocked him unconcious, it was Wayne who started the attack. Wayne has currently been serving a 5 month custodial sentence, after breaking the licence agreement which was made following one of his previous convictions, this one being a Actual Bodily Harm charge for harming his partner.
Mr. Griffiths, defending Wayne, put it forward to Justice Longbotham that these 5 months had already paid part of his debt to society.
While sentencing, Justice Longbotham said that they were very lucky that they had caused no permenant damage to Mr. Berry or they would be facing a “serious assault charge” he said their acts had been “extremely dangerous” and that Wayne was “a man of Violence”.
February 29, 2008 at 2:57 pm
The fact that the esentence has been passed is not really the story. That’s what courts do – sentence people.
The story is the violence that actually took place. So see my comments on the other court reports, especially the student who did the same story.
Apart from that it appears to be an accurately writeen descriptive account. You need to be more confident about angles, and that willcome naturally from reading the papers every day and looking at stories from the point of view of howthey are writen.
YRs Chris Horrie