Cleaver killing alcoholic loses appeal
An alcoholic from Walsall who hacked his friend to death with a meat cleaver has lost a bid to get his life sentence slashed.
The nation's most senior judge dismissed the appeal by Clive Wood, aged 49, who had his October 2006 murder conviction overturned and replaced with manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility last June.
Wood's appeal made history when judges ruled for the first time that severe alcoholism – or "alcohol dependency syndrome" – can amount to a defence to a murder charge.
But re-sentencing Wood for manslaughter today, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, ruled that, although his long-standing alcoholism reduced his "culpability" for the killing, a life term was still the right sentence.
"We accept, of course, that Wood's culpability was diminished, but it was very far from extinguished," he said. Pointing to the "very grave features" of the case, he added: "The mere fact that the case is one of manslaughter does not preclude a sentence of imprisonment for life.
"It is a striking feature of this case that Wood's intention was to kill, and so it remained throughout the prolonged attack, until his victim was dead," he said.
Wood, then of Darlaston Road, Walsall, was convicted of murdering Francis Ryan by hitting him at least 37 times with a meat cleaver and lump hammer, after downing several cans of Stella Artois, most of a litre of White Storm cider, as well as whisky and vodka. He had invited Ryan back to his flat in Walsall, where he passed out and woke to find Mr Ryan attempting to have oral sex with him.
He lost control and chased Mr Ryan around the flat, repeatedly striking him with the cleaver and hammer.
Wood told his trial that his mind had gone blank and the next thing he remembered was waking up covered in blood by the side of a canal and trying to find alcohol to drink.
His 13-year minimum jail "tariff" for manslaughter is a five-year reduction on the original 18-year tariff fixed after his murder conviction.
However, even when that term expires, the life sentence means he will still only be freed if the Parole Board is convinced he is safe to live in the community.
