A man killed his friend of 20 years after targeting him in a brutal gang robbery.
Thomas Broadhurst put Thomas Edmunds in a fatal chokehold in his bedroom as Kevin Condliffe, Terence Bennett and Kevin Nethercote all helped him rob cash to spend on booze and drugs.
A court heard the gang planned a violent attack on Mr Edmunds, known to his family as Tom or Tommy, and even celebrated after they left him for dead on May 9 last year.
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Ian Unsworth QC, said the three men and 17-year-old Condliffe, who can be identified for the first time today, planned their botched robbery while drinking.
They were also caught on recordings talking about violently attacking Mr Edmunds, believing he would have either money or cocaine.
Shortly after 10pm the group, who were all part of the same extended family, went to the house Edmunds shared with his father Alan on Clorain Road in Kirkby.
Bennett waited outside in the car while Broadhurst, Nethercote and Condliffe knocked on the front door.
The court heard Mr Edmunds’ father Alan opened the door after seeing Broadhurst, whom he had no reason to think was suspicious.
Mr Unsworth said: “He looked out of the window and saw Mr Broadhurst, who he knew as Bob.
“They had known each other for 20 years and he had no reason not to let him into the house."
Yet when Alan Edmunds opened the door, the gang attacked.
Broadhurst and Condliffe attacked Mr Edmunds in his bedroom, with Broadhurst putting him in a so-called ‘chicken hold’ while Condliffe stole cash the 36-year-old had saved from his job as a labourer.
The group then fled in a car, blowing the cash on alcohol and drugs.
They were picked up after police were called to a disturbance at Broadhurst and Nethercote’s house on Regal Road in Croxteth.
At this stage, their victim was fighting for his life at Aintree Hospital, having been found by his dad face down on the bed and unconscious.
He died the following day after suffering cardiac arrest linked to the choke hold.
In a statement read out in court today, Mr Edmunds’ mother Sheila said the death of her only son had shattered their family.
She said: “Tom is our only son, only grandson to his nan. He has three younger sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncle, cousins and friends.
“Everyone is totally heartbroken.
“Some of us will never heal, totally trapped in grief. Forever grieving for our child.
“How do you live with this pain?”
Barristers representing all four defendants said each expressed deep remorse for their actions, with Broadhurst breaking down when told by police that he had killed his friend.
All the defendants pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing.
Liverpool’s top judge, Andrew Menary, QC, said every one of the group played an active role in the robbery.
Judge Menary, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool, said: “All of you agreed to rob your friend for something, be it money or drugs or both.
“The most likely target was money.
“I am also satisfied that you recognised he would not wilfully hand over money or drugs and that you anticipated force would be necessary.”
Addressing Broadhurst, he said: “You may not have intended Mr Edmunds to die but that is in fact what happened.
Judge Menary also lifted reporting restrictions protecting 17-year-old Condliffe’s identity, just weeks before his 18th birthday.
Broadhurst, 32 of Regal Road, Croxteth, was sentenced to 10 years, eight months after admitting manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.
Bennett, 34, of Sovereign Hey, Croxteth, and Nethercote, 48, of Regal Road, Croxteth, were sentenced to eight years and nine years four months respectively after admitting conspiracy to rob.
Condliffe, of Carr Lane East, Croxteth, was sentenced to five years.
Detective Superintendent Simon Vaughan, Senior Investigating Officer, thanked Mr Edmund’s family, the investigation team and prosecutors for their work on the case.
He said: “This was a shocking case, in which a planned robbery of Thomas at his home had tragic consequences. Broadhurst and his accomplices have now been removed from the streets for the foreseeable future, left to reflect on the huge impact of their actions through the whole community.
“I’d like to thank Thomas’s family for their strength and dignity throughout this difficult process, thankfully one which was made slightly more bearable by the defendants’ guilty pleas. I’d also like to recognise the dedication and hard work of our investigation team, prosecuting counsel and CPS in ensuring this successful outcome.
“Violent crime can lead to catastrophic consequences and we’re determined to identify and remove from the streets all of those who use threats, intimidation and violence to carry out their criminal business. Information from those people and communities affected can be key to bringing such people to justice, so come forward with anything you know about violent crime where you are, and we will do the rest.”
