A teenage murderer jailed for his part in a fatal knife attack at a house party on the Norfolk coast has won a legal judgement over his minimum sentence.
Jesse Quaye was found guilty of the murder of Connor Barrett, 20, who died from a fatal stab wound following a 'joint attack' at a 21st birthday party at Hemsby in 2014.
Mr Barrett, a young father who had been the unofficial DJ, was found with serious injuries to his chest and back when police were called to reports of a disturbance at The Glebe.
He and co-defendant Ayomindy Bile, 15, were both sentenced to detention at His Majesty’s Pleasure (DHMP) with Judge Stephen Holt setting a minimum term of 15 years in custody.
READ MORE: Two teenagers sentenced to 30 years for fatal knife attack at Hemsby party
But his minimum sentence could now be reviewed after the High Court ruled that detaining a young offender convicted of murder indefinitely is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Quaye, from Great Yarmouth, was aged 17 when he committed the murder but had turned 18 by the time he was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court in January 2015.
In an application to the High Court he argued that a change in the law in 2022, following controversy over the sentences of the killers of James Bulger, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, breached his human rights.
It meant teenage murderers sentenced to DHMP after their 18th birthday would no longer be eligible to apply for a review of their minimum jail term.
However, those under 18 at the date of sentence would still remain able to apply for a review at the halfway point of their sentence.
READ MORE: ‘Why did it have to be Connor?’ - father of knife crime victim’s pain is still raw
But in their judgement following the appeal by Quaye, Lord Justice Williams and Mrs Justice May said the age of the offender when the offence was committed was “critical”.
“In our judgement, even with a low level of scrutiny, there is no objective justification for the differential treatment of offenders sentenced to DHMP who are 18 at the date of sentence,” they added.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We remain absolutely committed to ensuring murderers serve appropriate sentences and we will be appealing the High Court ruling.”
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