Men jailed for murder
Thursday, 23rd December 1999.
TWO men have been jailed for life for the murder of teenager Shane Champion, who died nine weeks after a vicious attack on New Year's Eve.
Shane, 17, whose mother Sandra lives in Argyle Court, Haverhill, died from severe brain damage in Addenbrooke's Hospital on March 7 following the attack in a flat in Hadleigh.
Stuart Foote, 23, of Ansell Close, Hadleigh, and Anthony Ralph, also 23, of Taylors Road, Hadleigh, were told by Mr Justice Smedley there was only one sentence, and that was one of life imprisonment.
He added: "On December 29 you attacked another man, Bradley Treadwell, in his own home - he leapt out of the kitchen window to get away.
"You pleaded guilty to that assault. Shane Champion had seen what you had done and might well have been about to inform others.
"You burst into a flat and there he was, a few days into his 17th year, and he was kicked to death and in a coma and taken to hospital where he died.
"The jury have found you guilty of murder in relation to that young man's totally unnecessary death."
Both men denied murdering Shane, 17, but had admitted assaulting Mr Treadwell and causing him actual bodily harm.
On the assault charge they were sentenced to three years, to run concurrently with a life sentence.
Stephen Kramer, QC, defending Foote, said his client was only 23, and had been out of trouble since 1994. He had worked up to own his small firm.
Patricia Lynch, QC, defending Ralph, said he played a latter part.
After the jury returned its verdict, Det Insp Harold Hayward said: "This was a very sad and tragic case in which a 17-year-old youth was killed unlawfully by two people seeking retribution in relation to a matter totally unconnected with the death of Shane.
Our thoughts must go out to his parents and family. We also wish to thank the community of Hadleigh for being courageous enough in coming forward and telling the truth in relation to this matter."
Shane, 17, whose mother Sandra lives in Argyle Court, Haverhill, died from severe brain damage in Addenbrooke's Hospital on March 7 following the attack in a flat in Hadleigh.
Stuart Foote, 23, of Ansell Close, Hadleigh, and Anthony Ralph, also 23, of Taylors Road, Hadleigh, were told by Mr Justice Smedley there was only one sentence, and that was one of life imprisonment.
He added: "On December 29 you attacked another man, Bradley Treadwell, in his own home - he leapt out of the kitchen window to get away.
"You pleaded guilty to that assault. Shane Champion had seen what you had done and might well have been about to inform others.
"You burst into a flat and there he was, a few days into his 17th year, and he was kicked to death and in a coma and taken to hospital where he died.
"The jury have found you guilty of murder in relation to that young man's totally unnecessary death."
Both men denied murdering Shane, 17, but had admitted assaulting Mr Treadwell and causing him actual bodily harm.
On the assault charge they were sentenced to three years, to run concurrently with a life sentence.
Stephen Kramer, QC, defending Foote, said his client was only 23, and had been out of trouble since 1994. He had worked up to own his small firm.
Patricia Lynch, QC, defending Ralph, said he played a latter part.
After the jury returned its verdict, Det Insp Harold Hayward said: "This was a very sad and tragic case in which a 17-year-old youth was killed unlawfully by two people seeking retribution in relation to a matter totally unconnected with the death of Shane.
Our thoughts must go out to his parents and family. We also wish to thank the community of Hadleigh for being courageous enough in coming forward and telling the truth in relation to this matter."
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