Brothers sentenced over 'execution' of man

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy accused of taking part in the "execution" of a man he claimed had indecently assaulted him was yesterday sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order for assault.

Phillip Barrowcliff, who was 11 when 44-year-old Jason Mantoyah was killed at his home in Thetford, Norfolk, was cleared of murder, but convicted of assault by a jury at Norwich Crown Court last month.

The youngster was in tears as he and his 16-year-old brother Gavin Clarke, who was found guilty of manslaughter by the jury, were sentenced by the trial judge Mr Justice Curtis, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Clarke was sentenced to five years’ detention.

The brothers had been remanded in secure accommodation pending sentence following conviction.

Neil Howard, 28, who stabbed Mr Mantoyah to death, was convicted of murder. He was jailed for life at an earlier hearing.

All three had denied murder.

Mr Justice Curtis ruled after the brothers were convicted it was in the public interest that they should be identified.

The boys, both of Thetford, had met Howard, of Norwich, in a pub. The younger boy claimed Mr Mantoyah had indecently assaulted him.

Jurors heard the trio then went to Mr Mantoyah’s home to seek revenge. He was attacked after going to investigate a disturbance outside his bedsit.

Howard and the teenager hit him on the head and shoulders with pieces ofwood. Barrowcliff twice hit Mr Mantoyah in the genitals with a piece of wood. Mr Mantoyah died after Howard stabbed him in the stomach with a kitchen knife.

Mr Justice Curtis said to Barrowcliff: “I have considered what has to be done and in my view your offence cannot be met with something other than a period of detention.”

It was necessary for the protection of the public, he said, adding: “It really is terrible that I have to say a thing like that.”

He told Barrowcliff: “You did a terrible thing that night, you really did.”

Sentencing Clarke, the judge said: “Either you were there for revenge or to exact retribution for the victim’s supposed sexual indecency with your brother Phillip.

“Whichever way it was, no society can put up with people, however young, taking the law into their own hands ...”