Fiancee angry over sentence

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Saturday 1st Mar 2003.

THE fiancee of Mathew Hornsby ­ the 25-year-old from Freshbrook, who was stabbed to death with a chisel ­ has criticised the seven-year sentence handed to his killer

Shaley Winter had her head in her hands as she witnessed Michael Ephgrave being sentenced for the manslaughter of the Swindon labourer.

Ephgrave, a carpenter, of Holbein Close, Freshbrook was found guilty of the manslaughter of Mathew, of Holbein Square, after a two and a half week trial.

Three other men­ Ephgrave's father Andrew, 43, of Holbein Close, Daniel Porter, 29, of no fixed abode and Nicholas Sheppard, 36, of Godolphin Close­ pleaded guilty to violent disorder and have been jailed, Ephgrave senior and Porter to three years each and Sheppard to two and half years.

Ephgrave, will serve half of the seven years in a young offenders institution.

Mathew's 18-year-old fiancee Shaley, of Cottington Close, Freshbrook, who has since given birth to his son, said: "I don't think the sentence is long enough, but no sentence would ever be long enough.

"I feel ill. All four of them are going to be fed, given beds and come out of prison at the end. At least they are still living. I would just like to know if Michael Ephgrave is ever going to tell my son Mathew how his father died?"

Passing sentence at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, Judge Stephen Silber told 19-year-old Ephgrave: "I regard what occurred as a vicious act against a man who was paralytically drunk and at the time unable to defend himself. It was an impulsive, vicious act against a defenceless man."

The trial centred on two incidents in Swindon last April, first at Freshbrook shops and then at nearby Leslie Close.

It was the prosecution's case that, after damaging Michael Ephgrave's van window, intoxicated Mathew was attacked in Leslie Close by the group of men whom police had told to go home after the first incident.

Michael Ephgrave admitted thrusting a chisel into Mathew's back during the Leslie Close fracas, puncturing his kidney and liver.

The Judge told Ephgrave: "I have no doubt this was an act by you, a reasonably intelligent man, and you must have intended to cause really serious injury to Mathew Hornsby using that degree of force.

"A sentence cannot be compared with the life of Mathew Hornsby, which of course was priceless."

He said that the factors in favour of the teenager included no previous convictions, a good employment record as a carpenter and the fact he was the youngest in the group of four people.

Ephgrave nodded his head when the sentence was imposed.

Shaley's mother Linda, 52, a senior catering assistant at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, said: "I don't feel any better after today. I don't feel any different since it happened. They are going to be here for the rest of their lives but Mathew's death will be with us every day."

Mathew's mother Irene, 66, added: "I feel numb. Mathew was only 25 ­ at least they have their lives."

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