NEW CROSS: Sentences of French student murderers could be appealed (From News Shopper)

NEW CROSS: Sentences of French student murderers could be appealed

10:05am Friday 12th June 2009 in News

JAIL sentences given to two men who tortured and stabbed to death two French students are to be examined by the Attorney General to see if they were too lenient.

Dano Sonnex, aged 23, of Etta Street, Deptford, and Nigel Farmer, aged 34, of no fixed address, killed Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez on June 29 last year in Sterling Gardens, New Cross.

Both men denied the murder but following a five-week trial the pair were found guilty last week.

Sonnex must serve a minimum of 40 years and Farmer must stay in prison for 35 years.

Judge John Saunders said he was setting minimum terms so the pair could be considered for release by a parole board if they were “old or perhaps in poor health”.

But Baroness Scotland will now decide whether the sentences should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

After the sentencing, the students parents’ said they were disappointed by the jail terms.

Mr Bonomo’s father Guy said: “I think that those people should never get out. They shouldn't get out.”

A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said: "We have called for the case papers to consider whether the matter is one that should be referred to the Court of Appeal to consider as unduly lenient."

Sonnex and Farmer were also found guilty of arson and false imprisonment, charges they had denied.

Farmer was found guilty of burglary, which Sonnex had admitted.