Mindless murderers, 15 and 16, get life

THREE youths who murdered a man in an orgy of "mindless violence" were given life sentences yesterday, as their victim's widow condemned how they had destroyed her and her children's lives.

• Dean Logan, 15, was one of the three convicted

Nachhatar Singh Bola, 36, was visiting family in the UK when he fell prey to the gang who, fuelled by drink and drugs, thought it would be funny to attack him.

He was kicked and stamped on repeatedly about the head and died five weeks later in hospital. His widow, Baljinder Kaur, 36, had problems obtaining a visa and arrived from her home in India on the day of Mr Bola's death, but too late to see him alive.

Dillon Cherrie, 16, of Renfrew, Dean Logan - then only 15 and now 16 - of Port Glasgow, and Stewart Patterson, 20, of Renfrew, all admitted murdering Mr Bola in Renfrew last summer.

Cherrie and Logan were ordered to serve at least nine years before being considered for par-ole, and Patterson's minimum term was set at ten-and-a-half years.

In tears outside the High Court in Edinburgh, Baljinder Kaur, who has a son, eight, and a daughter, four, said through an interpreter: "Everyone who came into contact with him spoke very highly of him. My kids will never see their father again.

"The families of those boys (the accused) will see them again. They are probably sitting back thinking about their sentences and the rest of their lives. They probably have no understanding how they have destroyed my life and my family's lives."

Lawyers for the three had argued that lighter sentences should be given to young offenders - under-18s are classified as children under international conventions - and the judge, Lady Dorrian, said she recognised that the age of the accused was a factor.

But she told them: "The three of you were engaged in a vicious, sustained, mindless and unprovoked attack on a passing stranger.

"The violence was considerable and resulted in the death of Mr Bola and tragic consequences for his family. Such behaviour is, frankly, incomprehensible."

Lady Dorrian said reports on Cherrie and Logan made very unhappy reading, and she could only hope that they emerged from their sentences "wiser and more mature".

She said Patterson, although only 20, had a lengthy criminal record, and it was a tragic reflection that his lawyer suggested that the life sentence he was to receive might be to his benefit.

Mr Bola was visiting family in the UK and staying with a friend in Renfrew. He was in Thomson Street, making his way back to the flat with a takeaway meal about 11pm on 2 July last year, when he encountered the three youths. They had been drinking and taking Valium tablets. Logan was bare chested.

"They saw the now-deceased and for no reason began to chase him," said advocate-depute, Leanne Cross. "He ran off, but fell to the ground. The three accused caught up with him and for no reason then repeatedly kicked him on the head and body, and one or more of them - the Crown cannot specify - repeatedly stamped on his head and body as he lay on the ground unable to defend himself."

Logan had sent a text, along the lines that he had battered a man when "out of his face" for his kebab because he thought it was funny. Mr Bola never regained full consciousness and died in hospital five weeks later.

Gordon Jackson, QC, for Cherrie, who had been on bail and had 19 pending cases, said: "This whole matter was fuelled by sitting drinking and taking various substances. He simply does not remember any detail of what happened. There can be no rational explanation."Paul McBride, QC, for Logan, said it had been "mindless violence" and, regrettably, Mr Bola had been the recipient. "There is nothing I can say that can make the matter any better," he added.

Patterson had been given bail the day before the attack for possessing a weapon.

His QC, Brian McConnachie, said Patterson had been shocked to hear the level of violence involved, and added: "He truly is remorseful and wishes he could turn back time. It may be the regime in prison will turn out to be a positive step for him."