Garry Green KC secures minimum murder sentencing tariff of 15 years for his client

Garry Green KC, leading Tim Bass (Faringdon Chambers) successfully achieved the minimum murder sentencing tariff of 15 years for his client who pleaded guilty to killing his brother.  

At sentence, in an extensive opening the prosecution outlined considerable aggravating features including: the deceased’s vulnerability; house bound and immobile after brain surgery; abuse of trust, the defendant was alleged to have committed  an extensive bank fraud using the deceased’s bank account, the motive for the killing was alleged to be the discovery of the fraud; use of several weapons during a prolonged assault which resulted in 34 serious injuries; and drunkenness at the time of the assault. 

In mitigation Garry shifted the Court’s focus. He concentrated submissions on the family tragedy; good character of the defendant, his confession and the defendant’s anguish at his brother’s death. Garry disputed: the motive was connected to the fraud; the extent of the fraud and that the breach of trust was relevant to sentence. He submitted, and the judge accepted, that the defendant was entitled to full credit for his guilty plea and that the correct tariff was 15 years, the shortest starting point for murder.

The facts of the case were unusual. The defendant, aged 60, lived with his brother, aged 61, in a flat in Hackney, east London. On the morning of the 3rd of March 2025, the defendant left home and went outside Stoke Newington Police Station. He called 999 and reported that he thought he’d committed murder. Asked why he explained that he’d bludgeoned his brother the night before in a drunken rage and woke to find that his brother was not moving.

Police arrested the defendant and went to the shared address. The flat was described as being in a state of dishevelled squalor. The deceased was discovered on a blood-stained mattress adjacent to a wall splattered with his blood. He had a large number of injuries to his body and head, some so severe that bone protruded through the skin. The police found several bloodied makeshift weapons including a disfigured iron garden fork, walking stick and wooden furniture leg. 

In interview the defendant remained largely silent but admitted that he’d killed his brother. He was charged with murder. After the defence obtained psychiatric reports the defendant pleaded guilty to murder. Garry was instructed by Gokeda Naidu at NP Solicitors.