The family of murdered man Mark Witherall have spoken of their relief after the thugs who kicked him to death were jailed for a total of 59 years.

They sat through weeks of distressing evidence at Maidstone Crown Court, including harrowing sounds of the attack outside his Whitstable home.

After the sentencing Mr Witherall’s sister Lorraine Rigden said: “It’s absolutely brilliant.

“They should die in there for what they did to my brother, they should never be allowed out on the streets again.”

Mr Witherall’s eldest daughter Carly Curry said: “I think we’ve got justice today for my dad so I’m really pleased.”

Mark Elliott, 21, of Sandpiper Road, Whitstable, was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years; Curtis Delima, 19, of Regent Street, Whitstable, to 20 years; and Gerry Cusden, 16, of Sydenham Street, to the lesser term of 16 years because of his age.

Judge Timothy Pontius said they were “like a pack of hyenas” in the way they turned on Mr Witherall and inflicted fatal injuries.

~For full strory and more reaction to the sentencing, see this week's Whitstable Gazette.