'Bully' killers beat Carlos Boyce to death in 'prolonged' Middlesbrough attack
Two men have been jailed after beating a man to death.
Teesside Crown Court heard from the family of 36-year-old Carlos Boyce, who was killed in a house in Middlesbrough last November.
Terry Dalton, 53, and Lee Hogg, 38, were found guilty of his murder on Thursday 11 May following a trial.
They were also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on Joe Spencer, who was present at the property.
The pair were both given life sentences during a hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Friday 12 May.
Hogg will serve a minimum term of 21 years in prison, while Dalton will serve a minimum of 20 years.
The court heard victim impact statements from Mr Spencer, Mr Boyce's 13-year-old son Jaden and from Mr Boyce's family.
Jaden said: "My father was my hero. He meant the world to me. He was the best dad and the best person.
"He was my number one person and the person I loved the most."
Mr Spencer told the court he was still living with the trauma of what happened, which resulted him losing a "good friend" and his home, which is where the attack happened.
He said: "I continuously relive that night in my head. Something went away from me that night."
He added he had been admitted to a mental health hospital and also suffered from panic attacks.
The court heard Hogg, 38, and Dalton, 53, had subjected Mr Boyce to a prolonged attack, stamping on him, kicking him and using "makeshift" weapons, including part of a sink, after attending the house in Homerton Road in the early hours of 11 November 2022.
Mr Boyce, who suffered 96 injuries, was also hosed with scalding water from the shower.
The men were described in court as "bullies" while Hogg was described as being in a "belligerent" mood.
The defendants, who had consumed alcohol and drugs, then made efforts to clean the crime scene to avoid detection.
The men were described in court as "bullies."
Judge Howard Crowson said: “For much of the attack you were attacking a defenceless man, neither of you received any injury, a fact relied upon in your defence, but in truth reinforced the one-side nature of the beating."
The court heard the men, who both have previous convictions, including for violent offences, were both working well in the prison service, with Hogg gaining the status as "trusted prisoner".
Speaking after sentencing Senior Investigating Officer, Temporary Detective Superintendent Chris Motson said: “We’ll never know precisely what happened inside that address on that day, but the two men were clearly subjected to an extremely violent assault which tragically resulted in Carlos losing his life.
“Hogg and Dalton inflicted multiple injuries in a sustained and violent attack and then did nothing to seek help for the victims, despite knowing the severity of their attack.
“Instead, they chose to prioritise continuing their drug misuse while they did what they could to evade capture. Since their arrest they’ve remained unrepentant and in denial of what they did.
“We are pleased that justice has been served today, my thoughts and the thoughts of my team remain with Carlos’s family and friends who have suffered the most unimaginable loss of their son, father, brother and cousin.
"While no verdict will ever be enough justice for them, I hope they take some solace in knowing these violent individuals will spend a lengthy period of their life behind bars.
“Over the last three weeks family and friends have had to relive the tragic events, at times in graphic detail as they attended court for this trial. I’d like to commend their courage in doing so and the dignity that they’ve shown throughout the proceedings.
“Now convicted murderers Hogg and Dalton will now face the full consequences of their actions having been issued significant sentences by HHJ Crowson.”
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