Parents 'disgusted' at sentence

Michael Chapman was killed as he walked home in June 2006

The parents of a teenager punched and kicked to death on a playing field have met Jack Straw to express their disgust at the killer's sentence.

Michael Chapman died on 16 June 2006 after an attack in Sittingbourne, Kent, and former friend Lee Cowie is serving four years for his manslaughter.

Lloyd and Sue Chapman met Minister of Justice Jack Straw on Wednesday to discuss the length of Cowie's sentence.

Mr Straw said the meeting enabled him to see if lessons could be learnt.

Cowie of Beechwood Avenue, Sittingbourne, admitted the manslaughter of Michael, of Bobbing, who died after Cowie ambushed him from behind as he walked home in June 2006.

'Let down'

The 19-year-old and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named, were cleared of murder in April 2007.

Outside the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Chapman said: "We just feel so let down by the whole of the justice system."

Mr Chapman said he expected Cowie to be released this summer, just over a year after he was sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institute in May 2007.

He said: "If people are going to get sentenced they need to do the full sentence."

A Ministry of Justice statement said: "The Justice Secretary was pleased to meet Michael's family to hear about their experiences to see if there are lessons the government can learn for the future."