Murder victim's parents speak out for the first time

Simon and Helen Fouracre have des-cribed living through the heartbreak of their son's brutal death and the harrowing Crown Court trial of his killers.

The couple have called for tougher punishments for people who carry out drink-fuelled violence and for measures to be put in place to protect the public.

Lloyd, of Broomfield, was brutally beaten to death by Taunton youths Andrew Betty, 19, and Jay Wall, 19, during an unprovoked attack in Gipsy Lane, Taunton, on Septem-ber 25 last year.

He had been kicked and beaten over the head with a parking sign and died in hospital from massive head injuries, the day be-fore his 18th birthday.

"Lloyd was a loving son, who everyone remembers for his energy and enthusiasm for life," Mrs Fouracre told the County Gazette.

"I still expect to hear him coming down the drive with his stereo on, opening the door and asking: 'What's for tea mum?' - we miss him all the time."

Both killers were sentenced to life impri-sonment on August 3 - Betty, was told he must serve a minimum of 13 years, Wall at least 12 years.

Mr Fouracre said the family were very disappointed the sentence for Betty was not longer.

And he called for changes in "a justice system with no teeth" which is "failing to control violent youths who roam our streets."

He added: "They are time bombs, primed with drink and waiting to explode when anyone is unfortunate enough to cross their path. If they are caught, they are not suitably punished," he said.

Mr Fouracre says the Government should be lobbied for the trial launch of a secure hostel in Taunton, where violent offenders could be sentenced by the courts to be locked up on Friday and Saturday nights.

IT should have been an enjoyable summer for the Fouracre family.

Last week, Lloyd would have picked up his A Level results from Richard Huish College in Taunton, alongside his friends.

Lloyd and his father had planned a ski-ing trip and his mum was looking forward to going to London with him to receive his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

But the family went from organising an 18th birthday party and a wedding anniversary party, to a funeral.

Lloyd's father, Simon Fouracre, said: "We got a phone call at about 12.30am to say something had happened to Lloyd and it was serious.

"At first, we thought there had been a car accident, but thought Lloyd was a strong lad and he would get through it.

"But when we got to the hospital they took us into a side room. The doctor came in and said they had done everything they could, but his major organs had shut down and he had died."

Lloyd and his friends had been at an 18th birthday party at Taunton Vale Sports Club and were on their way into town when the attack happened.

Paramedics had battled to keep him alive in the ambulance as it travelled from Gipsy Lane to Musgrove Park Hospital.

Helen's Fouracre, Lloyd's mother, said: "They let us go and see Lloyd, but we were only allowed to be with him for five minutes before we were told we had to leave as it was a crime scene.

"The police were very good, they did the best they possibly could.

"The first days after it happened we were just numb. I just sat with people coming and going, food parcels arriving, we were in total disbelief.

"You are in such shock, you just end up comforting other people."

Because many of the witnesses to the murder were due to sit their A Level exams this summer, the murder trial, which took place at Exeter Crown Court, did not start until July 10.

It was only then that Lloyd's family and friends learned the full extent of the violence used during the attack.

Mr Fouracre said: "Once the trial got under way we knew we just had to get through it. It was another horrible event in what has become a pretty awful life. We just hoped that justice would be done.

"When we first went to court, just to hear the word murder was horrendous, and all the detail about how blood was splattered on clothing.

"But, once you heard it so many times, you become desensitised. We knew vaguely what had happened, but not how vicious and cold-hearted the attack was."

Mrs Fouracre said she found comfort in making contact with an organisation called Compassionate Friends, through which she has been able to talk to other bereaved mothers.

She said: "It helps to know there are other people in the same position as you.

"Throughout the court case I was in contact via email with another mother who had been through a trial; it just helped to have someone to prepare you."

The jury took three-and-a-half days to reach their verdict.

A third man, Ross McCormack, also charged with the murder, was acquitted.

Mr Fouracre said: "When the verdict was delivered we were just totally overwhelmed.

"At the time of hearing the verdict there weren't many people who weren't emotional in the court room. It was just a relief to know that they got murder."

Throughout the trial, the family walked past the defendants in the dock, who were seated, restrained by prison guards.

Mrs Fouracre said: "The first couple of bail hearings we did not want to see them, but when we did, they just looked like frightened little kids.

"We just thought 'What has made them like it?' But there is only so much you can do for those sort of people."

"I still haven't got a lot of feeling for them. People say you must be so angry, but you do not think about it, really.

Mr Fouracre added: "People haven't got a clue how deeply this affects you."

Mrs Fouracre said: "We still want to know, why Lloyd? What had he ever done to anyone?

"How could they do that to someone on the ground, when they could see he would never move again? I just wonder how their mothers feel if they put themselves in my position.

"At least, at the end of the day, I can say I am proud of my son."

THE Fouracres are calling for changes to the justice system and tougher punishments for offenders to help stop emerging patterns of violent behaviour.

Murderer Betty was sentenced to 13 years, two years less that the recommended starting point of 15 years, because he was only just 18.

Mr Fouracre told the County Gazette: "We were hoping for a tough sentence to send a strong message to all other thugs out there.

"I am not someone who wants revenge but I do believe the punishment should fit the crime.

"We feel we had partial justice but to tackle this problem there needs to be big changes in the system.

"Even after all that has happened, I still do not believe in the death penalty.

"Everyone involved has been in some way a victim of a justice system that has no teeth and cannot control youths who roam our streets.

"They are time bombs, primed with drink and waiting to explode when anyone is unfortunate enough to cross their path.

"If they are caught, they are not suitably punished."

He went on to criticise sentences of Community Service Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders as being ineffective for people who continue to carry out violent offences.

"By not sending someone to prison, the message is given that they can do what they like and nothing will be done, so encouraging violent behaviour.

"Through these actions the judicial system is putting innocent lives in danger, as no matter what threats they give, they will not send teenagers to prison unless they murder someone, which is obviously far too late.

"Every weekend innocent people who happen to meet these thugs are beaten up; luckily, most of the time, it does not go as far as it did with Lloyd, "Why should we put up with it? Being beaten affects the victims' lives; it is not something you get over the next day and society should take it more seriously."

He called for harder action to be taken against teenagers who continue to commit violence.

"I fully understand why we do not want to sent 14- to 19-year-olds to prison, but we need something that protects the public and deters the offender.

"Most violence happens on a Friday and Saturday night when drink is consumed.

"These people must be taken off our streets at the times they are most likely to offend.

"I suggest we lobby the Government for a trial period to have a secure hostel in Taunton.

"Magistrates could sentence violent offenders on their first offence, to being locked up Friday and Saturday nights or however many nights they think appropriate for the offence.

"It would be a tiny cost in comparison to prison and would possibly change the offender's behaviour so he doesn't end up in prison in later life.

"This suggestion would keep the law-abiding majority safe and it would be a deterrent for the thugs.

"It would send them the message that society has boundaries it will not allow people to cross and therefore avoid the spiral that ends up in a family losing a much-loved son and two teenagers ending up in prison for 12 and 13 years.

"This has to be worth trying."