Duo jailed for murder 

22/12/2011

Two people have been convicted of the brutal torture and killing of a man in an attack that included the use of a hot poker.  

Gary Speight, 31 and Dean Swift, 44 were found guilty of murder of Anthony Bates by a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

Anthony Bates, who was 36 at the time of his death, was found dead at a flat where Speight was squatting on Fentiman Road, in Vauxhall, London on Tuesday,February 1 of this year. The court heard that Mr Bates had become involved with the ex-partner of Speight while he was in prison and he bore a grudge against the victim as a result.

CPS London Reviewing Lawyer Navnit Dosanjh said: "Mr Bates was brutalised and physically abused until he eventually died from his injuries. As part of this repeated and persistent torture the victim was stamped on, punched and kicked and he also sustained burn injuries from the use of a hot poker. There were also cutting wounds to his neck. Speight was the ring leader in the attack, but Swift was a willing accomplice, assisting in the torture. I hope these successful convictions provide some small comfort to the family of Mr Bates."

Speight and Swift have been sentenced to 30 and 28 years imprisonment respectively. Corrina Lowe, 28, was acquitted by the jury.