Buzzin Disgrace

Three aggressive burglars, Mark Elliot, 21, Curtis Delima, 19, and Gerry Cusden, 16, were given life sentences for kicking and stamping a man to death after he disturbed them when they broke into his house.

Father-of-three, Mark Witherall, 47-years-old suffered severe internal bleeding and was in hospital for nearly six-weeks, on a life-support machine before he died on March 7th 2007.

The Judge, Timothy Pontius, likened the attack to “a pack of hyenas” after presiding over the nine-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Mr Witherall’s family applauded yesterday as the three thugs were jailed,  Elliotfor a minimum of 23 years, Delima must serve at least 20 and Cusden for at least 16 years.

The three attackers claimed to have been drinking all day before going to a party at the house of a friend, which was also attended by Mr Witherall’s girlfriend, Sally George, 47-years-old.  When Ms. George was not looking the thugs took a set of keys from her handbag and later let themselves into her house.  They had not expected Mr Witherall to be inside, buy they woke him and he chased them out of the house.  As they were running away, Elliot picked up a spirit level, which he handed to Delima when they got outside.  Delima used the spirit level to hit Mr Witherall in the face, which caused him to collapse.  These evil thugs then kicked and stamped on him as he lay defenceless on the ground.

The judge said “The three of you intended to hurt Mr Witherall very badly, as together you kicked and stamped on him as he lay utterly defenceless.  The fatal injuries were by repeated blows with feet, not heavily shod but wearing trainers, a fact that underlines the savagery and force behind those kicks.”

There was also some footage shown in court as they were caught on CCTV, not in picture but in sound, an they could be heard kicking and stamping on the victim and then discussing burgling the property as  Mr Witherall lay dying on the ground.  They ransacked the house and stole possessions including a PlayStation and stereo.

The judge noted that not one of the yobs had shown any remorse for the murder and criticised their “shameful and cowardly antics” after continuously blaming each other through-out the trial.

He also lifted an order that protected the identity of Cusden, who at the time of the murder was only 15-year-old, saying that it was in the public interest to know who he was.  At last, one of the judge’s is doing his job!

All three yobs denied murder and were reported to have been smirking when the sentences were read out and according to Mr Witherall’s ex-wife, Carly Curry, they had laughed and joked through the whole trial.

In a report in a newspaper Ms Curry said “I’ve sat in court and these lads have given me the finger and they’ve laughed and joked.  They were arrogant and disrespected the barristers and the judge.  It’s disgusting the way they acted.  They had no remorse.  I’m so angry about what these yobs have done.  They are just kids, yet they have no fear of the law because it has given them no reason to respect it, and that has to change.”   I totally agree, all they are going to learn in prison is other ways to get themselves a bit of money by illegal means, free bed and board paid for by the tax payer and no worries, that’s not punishment.  They deserve to lose their lives in the same way as their poor victim.

After the convictions, the senior investigator, Det. Insp. Ian Rogerson described the murder as “shocking”.  He added “His family had to watch Mark die over a long period of time and this has left them devastated.  I hope that now the court proceedings are over, they can begin to rebuild their lives.

Mr Witherall’s father, 74-years-old said, “None of the three lads seems able to comprehend what they have done.  I couldn’t tell you what I think of them.  The family feel that justice has been done, though.”

The sentences were still not long enough, these evil pigs should never be allowed out on the streets again.  Life should mean life, but it doesn’t work like that as we all know!  The only decision that was right was the identity of the youngest thug being revealed, why should they have the privilege of not being identified, a ridiculous rule!   Another innocent life taken away by thugs on the booze again, I¡m getting a little sick of that excuse!