A minimum 22-year jail term imposed on one of the killers of schoolboy Thomas Devlin was manifestly excessive, the Court of Appeal in Belfast ruled yesterday.
Judges held that Nigel Brown's tariff should be reduced by two years because he disclosed his involvement in the attack, aiding the police investigation. But they rejected accomplice Gary Taylor's challenge to being ordered to serve at least 30 years in prison for carrying out the stabbing in August 2005.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan pointed out that Taylor had gone out armed with a knife intent on carrying out a random killing.
Fifteen-year-old Devlin was knifed to death near his north Belfast home while out buying sweets and drinks.
He suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, right upper arm, hip and face.