My son’s killer could be free in four years. What kind of justice is that?

 
Grieving: the Henry family, from left, Tracy, Dominic, mother Bernadette, Adam, Tyriq and Michaell, who united to attack the sentence as an injustice
Nigel Howard
Emer Martin17 May 2013
WEST END FINAL

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The family of a young father stabbed to death outside a London nightclub as he celebrated his birthday today hit out at the “unjust” sentence which could see his killer freed in four years.

Nicholas Henry, 33, was stabbed in the heart by “friend” Robert Casey when the 26-year-old flew into a drug-fuelled rage after being ejected from a Farringdon club on June 24 last year.

Casey, nicknamed Freckles, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 10 years after a three-week trial at Southwark crown court.

But today the victim’s mother, Bernadette, 55, said she had been “robbed of justice”. Mrs Henry, who lived with her son in South Ealing, said: “Our family has been given a life sentence and this man could walk free in four years’ time.

“Why? Because the jury took pity on him? We have been robbed of justice. The man who killed my son was not his friend. Nicholas had a lot of friends and they would be at the house all the time. Freckles was an acquaintance at most.

‘It is almost a year since he has gone, but what about year two, or year three? I’ve no idea how I will keep going feeling like this every day. I have lost my son.”

Mr Henry’s five-year-old son, Trey, had his birthday a week after his father died. The dead man’s older sister, Tracy, told the Standard that he also cared for their 89-year-old grandmother Erene Valerie Henry and that despite her declining health she had been holding out to hear the outcome of the trial. She died on Wednesday night.

Miss Henry said: “Casey’s mum can smile because she is going to see her son in four years’ time. I saw her smiling outside court — she can see him tomorrow if she wants. But we will always be in the same situation. We will still be missing him.

“No amount of remorse, apologies or time in jail will bring Nicholas back. We feel angry and let down.”

On the night of the killing, Casey, from Ealing, who was high on ecstasy and cocaine, went looking for revenge with a flick-knife after being thrown out of the Raduno club. He had threatened to “shank someone” earlier in the evening and was caught on CCTV repeatedly pulling the knife from his underwear.

The victim’s cousin, Jaszeno Henry, 39, said: “There are people in prison who have done far less and will be behind bars for longer.”

Mr Henry’s brother Adam, 37, said: “I don’t feel we have closure. It feels like we have got nothing.”

Jailing Casey, Judge Anthony Pitts told him: “Nicholas had the situation under control but you decided to brandish your knife and play the big man. In the end, you caused the worst possible injury you could.”

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