2007: ALCOHOLIC JAILED FOR BROTHER'S KILLING
A man who killed his older brother by ferociously beating him up after they had been binging on vodka has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.Alcoholic Phillip Stevens, aged 47, of Farriers Corner, Droitwich, Worcs, admitted the manslaughter of his brother Ronald Stevens during an incident in November.
Prosecutor Christopher Millington QC told Warwick Crown Court on Friday that during the afternoon Stevens, drunk and in a panic, told one of his brother's neighbours that he was dead.
She followed him into Ronald's home in Overfield Road, Bartley Green, Birmingham, where she saw Ronald's body.
Stevens said he had killed him and pointed to an empty vodka bottle, saying: 'Look how much we've drunk.' He was shouting at his brother to get up and saying he could not believe he was dead, and when the police arrived Stevens said he had woken up after they had been on a drinking binge for several days and had found Ronald in that state.
There were 68 separate marks of injury, of which 19 bruises and lacerations were to Ronald's head and face, while there were 13 marks to his body, deep tissue injuries to his chest and neck and defensive-type bruises to his forearms.
The level of alcohol in his system was about seven times the legal limit for driving.
Mr Millington said there was a history of Stevens physically abusing 56-year-old Ronald, who had previously lived with his partner Diane Northway in Droitwich, where he had run a taxi business, from the late 70's until 2003.
The brothers had a long history of alcohol abuse and physical bickering, which sometimes became physical.
Stevens, who had convictions for violence, made contact with Ronald after moving into his own flat post-incarceration and would visit him regularly.
The attack was described as sustained and ferocious, with the head injuries being fatal due to trauma and high alcohol levels.
Judge Richard Griffith-Jones sentenced Stevens to four and a half years in prison.
