Seven jailed for life over terror attack

SEVEN people have been jailed for life over the Tunisia terror attack which killed 30 Brits – including a Manchester-born father on holiday to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

Phillip Heathcote, 52, was killed after Aymen Rezgui opened fire on a group of tourists staying at a resort in Sousse on June 26, 2015.

The father-of-one and avid United fan was on holiday with his wife Alison to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary when they were gunned down.

Alison Heathcote previously told an inquest of how she played dead between two sun loungers after being shot in the stomach.

She was placed in a medically induced coma after receiving multiple bullet wounds during the atrocity which claimed a total of 38 lives.

Seven people have now been jailed for life following a trial over the Sousse attack and another deadly attack at the country’s famous Bardo Museum.

Other defendants received jail terms ranging from 16 years to six months, while the charges against 27 of the suspects were dismissed.

None of the defendants received the maximum penalty of capital punishment for a range of charges that include premeditated murder, threatening national security and belonging to an extremist-linked group.

The prosecution has said appeal the verdicts.

The suspected mastermind of both attacks, Chamseddine Sandi, has not yet been caught and is thought to be hiding in Libya.

Police say the defendants denied having participated directly in the March and June 2015 attacks during it will their questioning, but several of them acknowledged having provided logistical assistance to Sandi.

Mr Heathcote’s brother-in-law, Simon Boon, in a moving tribute following the attack, said: “Philip was without question a member of our family that everyone dearly loved and enjoyed so many good times with.

“We will, along with his family in Manchester, deeply grieve this terrible loss.”