Judge rules killer must serve minimum term of 16 and a half years
MICHAEL Owens will spend the next 16 and a half years in jail before he is considered eligible for release, a judge ruled yesterday.
Branding the tariff as “right and appropriate”, Mr Justice Colton said the murder of Robert Flowerday involved “prolonged and repeated violent assaults on a defenceless man in his own home”.
Owens initially denied murdering Mr Flowerday, but later confessed to the killing and said the motivation was burglary as he owed a significant amount of money due to his abuse of cocaine.
After he targeted Mr Flowerday in his Mill Road home on the outskirts of the Co Antrim village on January 27 last year, Owens battered the pensioner with an axe, claw hammer and poker.
He used a plastic bag as a makeshift balaclava and received a call from a friend during the fatal incident. The caller could hear sobbing in the background and was told by Owens “F*** off, I’m doing a job. Leave me alone”.
During yesterday’s sentencing, Mr Justice Colton noted the multiple injuries inflicted in the fatal attack which included 18 separate lacerations to his scalp, face and neck.
Mr Flowerday’s jaw and nose were broken, his skull was fractured in five different places, and the extensive wounds to his hands, wrists and arms suggested he tried to defend himself.
The judge also noted the loss suffered by the Flowerday family, the schoolchildren he taught and the Crumlin community.
Mr Justice Colton said that after reading victim impact statements, it was clear the devastating impact Mr Flowerday’s murder has had on his family and friends.
The judge said: “What emerged from these victim impact statements is a brother who was dearly loved and valued.
That love and value was not confined to family members.
“It is clear from demonstrations of support from members of the community living in the Crumlin area that they too were shocked and appalled at Robert’s murder.
“They have expressed their support for the family in very public ways, through vigils and personal demonstrations of sym
pathy and support. Former students have taken to social media to express their appreciation for Mr Flowerday.
“The picture that emerges is of a man who lived a blameless and worthy life. He was someone who made a valuable contribution to the community which is understandably shocked and appalled at his brutal death.”
Turning to Owens, Mr Justice
Colton said Mr Flowerday’s death appears to have occurred due to a “mean attempt to steal money by entering the deceased’s house” which then escalated into a “vicious assault as the deceased sought to protect his properly and defend himself.”
Saying the only mitigating factor was Owens’ guilty plea, Mr Justice Colton set a minimum term of 16 years and six months.