Sentence for man who killed best friend ‘not too lenient’
THE sentence handed to Kaylon Wilson for the murder of his best friend will not go to the Court of Appeal.
Wilson, of St Columba Way, Syston, was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years and eight months behind bars after admitting to killing Connor Black in February.
The Solicitor General has now confirmed that 21-year-old Wilson’s sentence will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, deeming it “not unduly lenient”.
Wilson repeatedly stabbed Connor, 24, whom he had known since childhood, in the chest and back before sending a picture of him to another friend.
During his sentencing at Leicester Crown Court last month, Judge Timothy Spencer QC said: “It’s as brutal a killing as I’ve seen in 40 years in criminal law and it’s certainly the most macabre.
“I’m quite clear this was a sadistic murder.”
Connor was staying overnight at Wilson’s home on Saturday, February 27, when he was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack.
On the day Wilson was jailed, Connor’s family spoke of their loss.
“We are so proud of our son Connor and the gentleman he had become,” they said. “He had his whole life ahead of him and Kaylon took that away from him.
“Connor’s murder is almost too much for us to bear and nothing will ever bring him back to us. No family should ever have to go through what we are going through.
“His murder has destroyed two families. Two young men’s lives wasted, two families left heartbroken.
“Connor was a person who lived his life for his friends. How tragic then that his best friend should choose to take his.”
The court heard Wilson had complex mental health problems but the judge said it did not amount to diminished responsibility.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “The Solicitor General was shocked by this case and wishes to express his sympathies to the family of Connor Black.
“After careful consideration he has concluded that he could not properly refer this case to the Court of Appeal.
“A referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so, such that the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence.
“The threshold is a high one, and the test was not met in this case.”
There was no photograph of the murderer released to the media.
Police forces routinely issue custody images of people who have been convicted of crimes, especially in the most serious cases, but Leicestershire Police deliberately did not release a photograph of Wilson because they said he craved recognition for his crime.
In a statement, the force said: “When considering releasing any custody image, Leicestershire Police carries out a full assessment in relation to the impact the release of the image will have on those involved in the case.
“In this case, following the assessment, it has been agreed not to release the image of the defendant.
“This is due to concerns raised throughout regarding the offender seeking to be recognised for the crime which has been committed. We are not prepared to support this.”
SOLICITOR GENERAL DISMISSES NOTION CASE SHOULD GO TO