Judge reduces sentence of teenager who kicked and stamped man to death (From The Northern Echo)
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Judge reduces sentence of teenager who kicked and stamped man to death
8:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Crime News
CARERS of a vulnerable man beaten to death in a motiveless assault have criticised a decision to reduce his killer’s sentence.
In October 2005, 53-year-old Stephen Humphries was kicked and stamped to death in an alleyway behind the former Nag’s Head pub in Darlington town centre by 17- year-old John McCallum.
McCallum admitted the murder of Mr Humphries, who had learning difficulties, and was jailed for life at Teesside Crown Court and ordered to serve a minimum of ten years in prison.
However, yesterday, Mr Justice Griffith Williams in the High Court in London agreed to reduce the minimum tariff by nine months after hearing how McCallum, now 23, had made “exceptional and outstanding” progress behind bars.
He said McCallum was now a very different person to the “aimless” youth who murdered Mr Humphries.
Describing his progress as “remarkable”, the judge said he had taken numerous behaviour management and vocational courses, had shown “genuine remorse”, worked as a “listener” with other prisoners and had ambitions to work as a chef when he was freed.
The judge said before the killing McCallum was “leading an aimless life, with a dependency upon alcohol and drugs which he funded, at least in part, dishonestly.
“Every prisoner should address the reasons for his or her offending and make progress towards rehabilitation but, on any view, McCallum has done much more than that.
“Given his pre-sentence behaviour and lack of commitment, his behaviour since has been remarkable. He has demonstrated an unforeseen alteration in his maturity and outlook permitting the conclusion that he has made exceptional and outstanding progress.”
The judge said that, had Mc- Callum not been caught with “hooch alcohol” in prison in 2008, he would have granted him a full year’s reduction in his minimum sentence.
The decision means McCallum can apply for parole before Christmas 2014. However, the judge emphasised that he was considered safe to live in the community.
However, mother and son Yvonne and Seymour Britton, who were carers for Mr Humphries, said they were shocked at the news. Mrs Britton said: “It would have been nice if Stephen had been given the chances he had.”
Mr Britton added: “This (McCallum’s progress) does not take back what he did to Stephen. You can’t bring Stephen back.
“I’m just saddened that the end of his life was met with such pain and suffering.”
Comments(15)
lfp
says...
9:18am Fri 10 Feb 12
harry2
says...
9:49am Fri 10 Feb 12
In prison there isn't any vunerable people with learning disabilities to kick the life out of, he won't take on the big boys
Life should mean life,
cromwell1599
says...
9:52am Fri 10 Feb 12
entitled opinion
says...
11:23am Fri 10 Feb 12
ph0b0s
says...
1:11pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Regardless of how this lad behaves now, he killed somebody. This is inexcusable no matter how much you apologise.
Besides, if he showed true remorse for his actions, he would accept that he deserves to be punished and live out his sentence, he should not apply for parole. The fact that he will appeal, for me, shows that he is in no way remorseful. There is a huge difference between remorse and regret.
This MURDERER feels regret, because he is in jail and doesn't want to be. Not remorse.
I fail to see how these Judges can claim a murderer to be reformed after reading a few sheets of paper and meeting the guy for 5 minutes in a court room.
One of these days one of these sentence lowering judges is going to get a very nasty wake up call. It's only a matter of time
lilboysmammy
says...
1:12pm Fri 10 Feb 12
lilboysmammy
says...
1:12pm Fri 10 Feb 12
BLOBBY35
says...
1:25pm Fri 10 Feb 12
stevegg
says...
4:55pm Fri 10 Feb 12
TheSeer
says...
7:37pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Ahoy Tiny Crisp
says...
9:07am Sat 11 Feb 12
avalon3mg
says...
10:02am Sat 11 Feb 12
And of course, PEOPLE IN DARLINGTON are now allouded to feel safe
the-big-yin
says...
10:44am Sat 11 Feb 12
lfp wrote:scum!!!! he should have been given life with no parole....scum, alco, drug taking idiot.....pretending to be a good boy in nick!!!!!when he gets out i hope he gets exactly what was given to that poor man stephen humphries....the scum is sat in jail still thinking wow!! i killed someone..but is now scared out of his wits at being there...wanting to go on loads of courses in jail, so that he has less time by himself to think about the attrocious thing he did......i hope someone reads what he did, and gives him exactly what he gave this defenceless man.....hope you rot in hell!!!!!
He is playing the game of good boy ,gets out early.He took a life he should get life.
tomtopper
says...
8:26pm Sun 12 Feb 12
Yet this scumbag gets a couple of years...
Just shows that the system dosen't care about some unknown guy with learning difficulties...
Punishment by prison is now reserved for the elite if they're harmed, otherwise it's rehabilitation that prison is used for NOT punishment...
This is what happens when you let liberal socialists take over the system, cps, sentencing council, probation etc..
He would've done more time if he nicked a bottle of water in the London riots...
Welcome to broken, spineless Britain
swissball says...
9:12am Fri 10 Feb 12