Youths get life for river murder

Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington were found guilty of murder

Two teenagers convicted of murdering a student who was beaten and thrown into a river have been given life sentences.

Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington, from Bedford, were convicted of the murder of Robert Gill, 17, who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford.

Downes, 19, of Acacia Road, was told he would serve a minimum of 17 years and Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, must serve 18 years. Both had denied murder.

A youth was given four-and-a-half years for manslaughter at Luton Crown Court.

Robert Gill had been on a night out with his brother two days before Christmas 2007.

His attackers stole his wallet and beat him like a punchbag, the court was told.

'Plied with drink'

Sentencing, Judge John Bevan QC criticised the youngsters' families and the pubs and clubs which served them drinks.

He said: "There was at least half-an-hour of robbery, false imprisonment, bullying, punching, humiliating and terrifying a drunk, naive, harmless, non-aggressive, 17-year-old student who soiled himself in fear towards the end of the ordeal.

"There are elements here of parental responsibility, or the lack of it, and also the responsibility of the clubs and pubs in Bedford - in particular the Bricklayers Arms, Midas and New York New York.

Parents forgive son's killers

"If premises like that put financial gain ahead of the appalling damage they do to youngsters, in particular Robert Gill, they should have a feeling of shame about the events of Boxing Day in Bedford.

"The parents and grandparents, according to Luddington and Downes, also plied them with drink and they must have known that those two were liable to be aggressive in drink."

Downes and Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment.

The youth, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named, was also convicted of robbery and false imprisonment.

Police divers recovered Robert's body eight days later.

Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the three had behaved like "predators, picking on their prey".

They subjected their victim to a savage attack, punching and kicking him before he went into the water, the court had heard.

Robert's parents, Fred and Fran Gill, of Wilstead in Bedfordshire, said their son was "a wonderful lad" who was missed "by all his family and friends, particularly by his brother Duncan".