Airport carjack death pair jailed

Taylor (l) was "sneering and remorseless" throughout the inquiry

A man and a teenager have been jailed after admitting killing a man in a carjacking at Liverpool airport.

Michael Howard, 57, of Hesketh Bank, Lancs, died when he was run over with his own car in January, as he prepared to go on holiday with his wife.

Dean Taylor, 17, of no fixed address, and Craig Abbott, 21, of Carley Walk, Speke, were each jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

At Liverpool Crown Court they admitted manslaughter and conspiracy to steal.

Neil Dolan, 20, of Yeardon Walk, Speke, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and he was jailed for four years.

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Sentencing, Mr Justice Hughes said: "No sentence can - nor should it - try to put a price on life. Life is beyond price."

But speaking outside court, Mr Howard's wife Elaine said the judge had put a price on a life.

"He has effectively put a tariff of 3.5 years on a life, given the difference in sentence between those who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the one who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal," she said.

"I would have liked to see the maximum the law could give for the crime," she said.

"Anything under 10 years is not enough.

"I have accepted it was not murder, they did not intend to do it, but their actions have completely shattered my family.

Mr Howard and his wife were going on holiday to Malaga

"I would like to see them get their just desserts.

"My children and I have got a life sentence."

Mr Howard died as he and Mrs Howard prepared to fly from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Malaga, Spain, on 6 January this year.

Prosecutor Charles Chruszcz QC, earlier told the court: "Taylor arrived at the scene in the front passenger seat of a Rover driven by Abbott.

"He parked parallel to Mr Howard's Volvo. Mr and Mrs Howard got out and were talking about exchanging money for a trolley when Dean Taylor got out of his car and into the Volvo which still had the key in."

Abuse shouted

The court heard Taylor then tried to move the Volvo, which he was trying to steal.

Mr Chruszcz added: "Mr Howard turned and tried to stop this taking place by crossing in front of the car.

"Abbott moved the car so the Volvo could move away.

"Taylor drove forward to pursue the plan of removing the Volvo. Mr Howard was hit."

Det Chief Insp Ian Mulcahey of Merseyside Police, said Taylor was "sneering and remorseless" throughout the inquiry, but added Abbott was more co-operative.

As they were led away from the dock to begin the sentence, Abbott remained silent, but Taylor shouted abuse.

Mrs Howard also said Abbott's co-operation should have been taken into account during sentencing.

The pair were believed to have been involved in a carjacking in December last year at the airport, where Formula One ace David Coulthard's father's car was stolen.

Following their guilty plea, the judge, Mr Justice Hughes, lifted an order preventing Taylor being identified.