Life for ex-soldier who killed his sons

A FORMER British soldier who murdered his two young sons by stabbing them in the neck with a screwdriver was today jailed for life.

Steven Wilson, 44, of Great Barr, Birmingham, was found guilty of murdering Brad, seven, and Brett, eight, by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to his wife Denise.

The jury of six men and six women took less than an hour to find Wilson guilty. He had denied all three charges throughout the 13-day trial.

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hughes told Wilson: “You took those boys’ lives to revenge yourself on your wife.

“You have tried ever since to pin the responsibility on her. It was patently dishonest. Anybody who heard you give evidence could believe no more than an occasional word.” He sentenced Wilson to life for each of the murders and 12 months for the assault on his wife, to run concurrently.

Wilson killed his sons in a remote corner of a golf course, minutes after raining blows on his wife when she told him their marriage was over.

Denise sobbed and hugged a police liaison officer as he was sentenced. Outside court, Wilson’s daughter from a previous marriage, Stacey Banner, 23, said: “I think it is excellent. That man should never walk the streets again. He is a very evil fella.”

An elderly member of Wilson’s family added: “We are absolutely over the moon. He is gone for 30 years.”