Disabled man's killers to appeal

The judge described the three as "sadistic"

A man and two youths jailed for life for killing a disabled man are appealing against their sentences.

Brent Martin, 23, who had learning difficulties, was kicked to death on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate.

William Hughes, 22, and Marcus Miller, 16, and Stephen Bonallie, 17, were sentenced to minimum terms of between 15 and 22 years.

Their case is to go before the Court of Appeal on 17 June, which will decide if there is a basis for the appeal.

The three, all trained boxers from Sunderland, repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted their victim during the attack in August 2007.

Mr Martin was punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted

He was found lying in a pool of blood and later died in hospital.

At their trail in January, Newcastle Crown Court heard it was over a £5 bet to see who could knock him out first.

Judge John Milford described the attack as "sadistic conduct on an extremely vulnerable victim".

He ruled that Hughes, from Washington Road, serve a minimum of 22 years, Bonallie, from Birtley Avenue, 18 years, and Miller, from Baxter Road, at least 15.

The sentences were welcomed by Mr Martin's family.

His 63-year-old mother Brenda has campaigned for "life to mean life" along with other families of murder victims.