Students were bound, gagged, beaten, tortured and stabbed more than 200 times

[A Midnight Dreary]

As two talented biochemistry students and close friends, Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez had come to London to develop their skills as specialists in infectious disease and environmental engineering.

Instead the two became the victims of an attack that, even by the standards of a city battling against the blight of knife crime, is among the most horrific in living memory.

The bodies of Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez, both 23, were found late on Sunday evening, bound, gagged and with hundreds of stab wounds and other injuries. They had been tortured and beaten repeatedly with a blunt instrument.

Yesterday officers described the killings, which took place in Mr Bonomo’s flat in southteast London, as the most vicious they had seen.

“This was a frenzied, brutal and horrific attack - I have never seen injuries inflicted to bodies like this before,” Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said yesterday as he called for public help in finding the killer, or killers.

“Everyone working on this case, including myself, senior detectives and support staff, has been deeply shocked by what we have seen.”

Officers admitted yesterday that they were at a loss to explain so incomprehensible a crime. Theories include a burglary gone wrong, a ritualistic killing or a case of mistaken identity. All police could confirm was that it was not suspected of being a professional hit, simply on the ground of the sheer, extraordinary, brutality of the killings.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4265622.ece

[Cherrypie]

This has been on the main news here in England. Those poor men. What an awful end to their young lives.  So sad.

RIP guys

[kevansvault]

Now THAT'S a hate crime.  I hope the fucker(s) responsible are caught and brought to justice.  RIP Laurent and Gabriel.

[dv8grl]

On a few of the British newspaper message boards., there is a huge conspiracy theory that these boys were killed because of what they knew. They were biochemists studying bird flu. A laptop was stolen days before the murder. And "apparently" in recent years alot of biochemists have been murdered.
The more ya think about it, the more the conspiracy theory holds up. I mean, these boys were tortured, horribly tortured..WHY? Perhaps it was because of what they knew.....
SCARY!!!!!!!!

[Neal]

Student murderers get life terms - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8073659.stm

Sonnex, 23, must serve a minimum of 40 years and Farmer, 33, must stay in prison for a minimum of 35 years.

Trial judge Mr Justice Saunders told the Old Bailey the pair had only escaped being jailed for the "truly horrific" murders for the rest of their lives because of their young ages. 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/French-Students-Dano-Sonnex-Nigel-Farmer-Guilty-Of-Murdering-Laurent-Bonomo-And-Gabriel-Ferez/Article/200906115295804?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_1&amp ;lid=ARTICLE_15295804_French_Students%3A_Dano_Sonn ex%2C_Nigel_Farmer_Guilty_Of_Murdering_Laurent_Bon omo_And_Gabriel_Ferez

Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were stabbed 244 times in what the Old Bailey heard was an "orgy of bloodletting

The two students, dressed only in their underpants, had been woken in the night and tied up after Sonnex and Farmer climbed in through an open window.

The two killers stole games consoles, mobile phones and bank cards, which they used to withdraw £360.

Fuelled by drink and drugs, they egged each other on to an "inhuman" attack of "brutal and sustained ferocity", the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Bonomo - who Farmer later said "just wouldn't die" - was stabbed 194 times and Mr Ferez suffered 50 knife wounds, some of them after his death.

Hours later Farmer torched the bedsit, leaving firefighters to find both victims bound at the ankles and wrists, and their heads wrapped in towels.

[HockeyGirl]

[quote author=Neal link=topic=14949.msg1296184#msg1296184 date=1244127080]
Student murderers get life terms - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8073659.stm

Sonnex, 23, must serve a minimum of 40 years and Farmer, 33, must stay in prison for a minimum of 35 years.

Trial judge Mr Justice Saunders told the Old Bailey the pair had only escaped being jailed for the "truly horrific" murders for the rest of their lives because of their young ages. 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/French-Students-Dano-Sonnex-Nigel-Farmer-Guilty-Of-Murdering-Laurent-Bonomo-And-Gabriel-Ferez/Article/200906115295804?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_1&amp ;lid=ARTICLE_15295804_French_Students%3A_Dano_Sonn ex%2C_Nigel_Farmer_Guilty_Of_Murdering_Laurent_Bon omo_And_Gabriel_Ferez

Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were stabbed 244 times in what the Old Bailey heard was an "orgy of bloodletting

The two students, dressed only in their underpants, had been woken in the night and tied up after Sonnex and Farmer climbed in through an open window.

The two killers stole games consoles, mobile phones and bank cards, which they used to withdraw £360.

Fuelled by drink and drugs, they egged each other on to an "inhuman" attack of "brutal and sustained ferocity", the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Bonomo - who Farmer later said "just wouldn't die" - was stabbed 194 times and Mr Ferez suffered 50 knife wounds, some of them after his death.

Hours later Farmer torched the bedsit, leaving firefighters to find both victims bound at the ankles and wrists, and their heads wrapped in towels.



[/quote]

Oh my jesus this is horrible! I almost wish these men did have some secret knowledge they were tortured for, then maybe their deaths would have more meaning then some stupid video games and a cell phone.
The part i don't get is that they didnt get life sentences because they were too young. Isnt that more of a reason to give them a life sentence to keep them off the street for good? Sonnex will be 60 when he gets released. More then enough time left to something else horrific. That call by the judge was a no-no

[andrea0121]

Ok, Dano's face is the stuff nightmares are quite possibly made of. 

[bowieluva]

Wait, the judge didn't want to give them a life sentence because they were 'so young'? That's asinine, these two kids were just as young.

[lostlilgirl]

[quote author=andrea0121 link=topic=14949.msg1296747#msg1296747 date=1244158092]
Ok, Dano's face is the stuff nightmares are quite possibly made of. 
[/quote]

I thought that too. Jesus! I think we are looking at pure evil right in the face. 

[paranoia agent]

Ok sorry this is so random and off topic...but anyone notice the judge's first name was Justice? So much for that huh.

[MrBoddy2005]

[quote author=paranoia agent link=topic=14949.msg1297054#msg1297054 date=1244178441]
Ok sorry this is so random and off topic...but anyone notice the judge's first name was Justice? So much for that huh.
[/quote]

No, That's His Title

[paranoia agent]

Haha figures I am an idiot, disregard my retardedness. Thank you.

[the color nine]

Mr Bonomo's mother Lydie said her son would still be alive if it were not for the errors at every level of the justice system that kept Sonnex out of custody.

The court heard he had been jailed for a previous knife attack but was allowed out on licence and went straight back to a life of crime.

But instead of being recalled to prison, he was left free to kill after what was described as a "complete breakdown in communication".

Even when the error was spotted, it was 16 days before police came round to take Sonnex into custody - but they were too late.




What does this mean?  Is that like out on bail?  Also does the UK have a parole system like the states where a sentence of 40 years usually means they will get out in ten or twenty?

[Dr. Strangelove]

[quote author=the color nine link=topic=14949.msg1297218#msg1297218 date=1244205874]

The court heard he had been jailed for a previous knife attack but was allowed out on licence and went straight back to a life of crime.

But instead of being recalled to prison, he was left free to kill after what was described as a "complete breakdown in communication".

Even when the error was spotted, it was 16 days before police came round to take Sonnex into custody - but they were too late.


What does this mean?  Is that like out on bail?  Also does the UK have a parole system like the states where a sentence of 40 years usually means they will get out in ten or twenty?
[/quote]

A licence is kind of like a suspended sentence: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/p_early_release_from_prison_-_serving_your_sentence_in_the_community.pdf

In the UK judges often sentence people to a set minimum/maximum jail term. In this case, one was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years. The other has a minimum sentence of 35 years. So they won't be able to get out of jail until they've served the minimum number of years at least. The maximum is life for these two.

The sentences are disgustingly weak for the crime they committed. I don't understand why their ages should be taken into consideration. They're both adults. And violent sociopaths.

[the color nine]

[quote author=Dr. Strangelove link=topic=14949.msg1297255#msg1297255 date=1244210872]
A licence is kind of like a suspended sentence: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/p_early_release_from_prison_-_serving_your_sentence_in_the_community.pdf

In the UK judges often sentence people to a set minimum/maximum jail term. In this case, one was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years. The other has a minimum sentence of 35 years. So they won't be able to get out of jail until they've served the minimum number of years at least. The maximum is life for these two.

The sentences are disgustingly weak for the crime they committed. I don't understand why their ages should be taken into consideration. They're both adults. And violent sociopaths.

[/quote]


So for his previous time in jail he was let out on licence, that means he served his minimum sentence?

[Hayalet]

[quote author=the color nine link=topic=14949.msg1297282#msg1297282 date=1244213266]

So for his previous time in jail he was let out on licence, that means he served his minimum sentence?
[/quote]

Yes i think so, the time he spent on remand before being sentenced is also taken off ie- sentenced to 4 years, take the 6 months- 1 year+ remand off, then take into account good behavour... you could be out in a year and half... sometimes can undercut the minimum sentence.

Life is 25 years in the UK, i also think the minimum sentence is just a date they can apply for a parole hearing...

These lads should die in jail. Oh and "let out on licence" means they should be watched, someone failed their job big time here.

[the color nine]

[quote author=Lozz*in*Wonderland link=topic=14949.msg1297431#msg1297431 date=1244224386]
Yes i think so, the time he spent on remand before being sentenced is also taken off ie- sentenced to 4 years, take the 6 months- 1 year+ remand off, then take into account good behavour... you could be out in a year and half... sometimes can undercut the minimum sentence.

Life is 25 years in the UK, i also think the minimum sentence is just a date they can apply for a parole hearing...

These lads should die in jail. Oh and "let out on licence" means they should be watched, someone failed their job big time here.
[/quote]

:-o

[Hayalet]

The Parole Board has the power to direct the release of life sentence prisoners but release can only take place once the minimum period of imprisonment has been served, unless in exceptional compassionate circumstances, and the Parole Board is satisfied that the risk of harm the prisoner poses to the public is acceptable.

All indeterminate sentence prisoners are released on a licence and are supervised by the Probation Service. The release licence contains a number of standard conditions that the released prisoner must adhere to. On the recommendation of the Parole Board the licence may also contain additional conditions that are specific to the individual prisoner such as the requirement to undertake further offending behaviour work in the community or conditions to exclude the individual from certain places in order to protect the victim or victim's family.

Released lifers:

are subject to a life licence which remains in force for the duration of their natural life;
may be recalled to prison at any time to continue serving their life sentence if it is considered necessary to protect the public

http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/adviceandsupport/prison_life/lifesentencedprisoners/

[Hayalet]

[quote author=the color nine link=topic=14949.msg1297489#msg1297489 date=1244228829]
:-o
[/quote]

wiki actually says about uk life terms-

United Kingdom

The average sentence is about 15 years before the first parole hearing, although those convicted of exceptionally grave crimes remain behind bars for considerably longer; Ian Huntley was given a tariff of 40 years. Some receive whole life tariffs and die in prison, such as Myra Hindley. Various media sources estimate that there are currently between 35 and 50 prisoners in England and Wales who have been issued with whole life tariffs, issued by either the High Court or the Home Office. These include Ian Brady, Donald Neilson, Dennis Nilsen and Robert Black.


So really its 15 years until they might let you out after "serving life" and you are meant to be recalled to spend the rest of your life in jail if you commit another crime... by the same people who were meant to be watching these lads. 

[HyperU2]

Was it summer time?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1191026/Teenager-handed-curfew-drunkenly-assaulting-woman-allowed-Saturday-nights-summer.html