Bid to get teen’s killers locked up for longer fails
THE SENTENCES OF CARLOS NETO AND LAWSON NATTY
A BID to get schoolboy Gordon Gault’s killers locked-up for longer has failed.
The 14-year-old died in hospital six days after he was stabbed with a machete in Newcastle’s West End.
Six teenagers stood trial for Gordon’s murder, but all were cleared of the charge in January with Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty being convicted of manslaughter.
Neto, 18, of Salford, Greater Manchester, was locked-up for nine years and two months and Natty, of Newbiggin Hall, for two years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court in March.
Their sentences have since been referred to the country’s top law officers for being too soft.
Under the Attorney General’s Unduly Lenient Sentencing Scheme (ULS) scheme, victims of crime, members of the public, and the Crown Prosecution Service can ask for certain crown court sentences to be reviewed if they believe they are too lenient.
The Attorney General’s Office then has 28 days, from the date the original sentence was passed, to decide whether the sentences should be referred to the Court of Appeal to be reviewed.
However, Natty and Neto’s cases were not sent to the Court of Appeal and their original sentences still stand.
Jurors heard how Gordon was injured when a violent clash broke out between two gangs in Elswick in November 2022.
Neto stabbed Gordon with a machete provided to him by Natty when opposing groups from Benwell and Elswick fell out, the court was told.
As he sentenced the pair High Court Judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer, acknowledged that he knew Gordon’s family would not feel as if justice had been done.
Speaking directly to the teenager’s loved ones he said: “I cannot begin to imagine what you have been through from the moment you learned on November 9, 2022 what had happened to Gordon.
“I have no doubt that you will not feel that justice has been done. I understand that, but I hope you understand the constraints within which I was obliged to act arising out of the verdicts in this case.
“Despite everything, I hope that you will now be able to move on, not least for the sake of [siblings] Jessica and Jack, and you certainly leave this court with our sympathy and very best wishes.”
At a separate hearing five teens, who were friends with Gordon and were 15, 16 and 17 at the time, were given either suspended sentences or referral orders, after admitting affray in connection with the violence.
Liam Thompson, 28, who also pleaded guilty to affray, was jailed by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court for 27 months.