11th Jun 10
Text message brothers sentenced to 10 years for murder
by Sally Davies
Two brothers were sentenced to 10 years in jail for killing a man they mistakenly thought had harmed their mother after the woman sent them a text message saying she had a bruised face. Christopher and Robert Abraham, aged 26 and 30, respectively, were sentenced by the High Court in Edinburgh after they plead guilty to culpable homicide.
The incident occurred last December, after their mother sent the two brothers a text message saying that she had a sore face, which they assumed came as a result of being attacked by David Linning, 65, who was in a relationship with the woman at the time. According to testimony heard before the court, Christopher and Robert beat, punched, kicked, and slashed Mr Linning with a knife during the attack. The man later died as a result of his injuries.
The boys found out later that Mr Linning had not harmed their mother; rather she injured herself after falling down drunk. The barrister defending the two brothers argued that the court should show leniency as the two were homeless at the time and that their family, as evidenced by their mother’s actions, has had a long history of troubles with alcohol.
Judge Lady Stacey did not agree with the defence, as she said while rendering her judgement that the act was extremely wicked, and the fact that the two were drinking is no excuse for their actions. She went on to say that although the two showed some remorse, there is nothing they can do to take away the anguish they have caused Mr Linning’s family.
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