Brothers given life sentence for sickening murder

12:03pm Saturday 23rd August 2008

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TWO brothers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for repeatedly stabbing a man to death in Thamesmead.

Carl Wheal, 36, and 28-year-old Gary Wheal were told by the judge at the Old Bailey they would serve a minimum of 15 years in jail before being considered for parole, yesterday (August 22).

The brothers were found guilty on August 15 of murdering 44-year-old Mark Evans.

A third man, aged 24, from Thamsmead was found not guilty.

Mark Evans was found by police at 11.18pm on October 11 last year, outside Timothy House in Kale Road, Thamesmead.

He had been stabbed and was taken to Royal London Hospital where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of the next day.

A post mortem examination showed he died as a result of multiple stab wounds.

Carl Wheal of Lensbury Way, Abbey Wood and Gary Wheal of Timothy House, Kale Road, Thamesmead were arrested shortly after the incident, in the early hours of October 12 and charged with murder.

The court heard that all three men had been together that evening, drinking alcohol and taking drugs with a group of other people.

A row broke out when one man accused Mr Evans of stealing his gold necklace.

When Mr Evans left the premises the Wheal brothers followed him and stabbed him.

The court was also told that the man had not been wearing the necklace and it was at his home.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Dunne said: "The level of violence used against the victim is hard to believe.

"They stabbed him over and over again, even after he was evidently not in a state to be able to get up from the floor.

"It was a sickening attack on a defenceless man, fuelled by excessive use of alcohol and drugs.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mark Evans who have heard the sickening details of this case.

"They will be reassured to know these two men will be safely locked away for a long time."