ANGRY scenes followed the jailing for six years this week of a former soldier who kicked another man to death.

Former Cheshire Regiment soldier John Gill denied murder but admitted the manslaughter of Gary Sadler on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that 24-year-old Gill, of Scoresby Road, Leasowe, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences with the UN peace keeping force in Bosnia.

Gasps of disbelief greeted the sentence as Gill was led to the cells. The dead man's aunt shouted: "Is that all? Six years for a life!"

The victim's mother was in tears with other women.

Mr Sadler, aged 32, of Digg Lane, Moreton, was found just yards from his home on December 20 and died later that day in hospital from head injuries.

Prosecuting, William Waldron, QC, said Mr Sadler had been subjected to a violent and sustained attack by Gill after they began arguing while walking home after a party.

Mr Justice Douglas Brown said: "I have to sentence you for a dreadful killing. Any sentence I pass cannot bring back this young man and may be misconstrued as too high, or too light. But, it has to take into account your guilty plea, that you did not know you had this stress disorder and that you had no therapy, or treatment, for it, following your discharge from the Army."

David Turner QC, defending, said Gill at 18 was part of the UN peace keeping force in Bosnia. He was required to help bury 700 bodies in a mass grave.

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