Life sentences for drunk Bedford murderers

Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for the unprovoked murder of a Bedford man. [20 November 2009]

Piotr Pustelnik, 28, and Adrian Cybula, 23, attacked Noel Smith, 49, on 31 January. Mr Smith tried to walk away from the men after Cybula initially pushed him. Instead, Mr Smith was repeatedly kicked in the head. He failed to regain consciousness following the attack.

"Frenzied attack"

Prosecutor Beverly Cripps told Luton Crown Court: "He [Mr Smith] was going about his daily business in Rutland Road, Bedford. They [Pustelnik and Cybula] were drunk and arguing in the street and they turned their attention on him and without any cause or reason chased him in order to attack him. When he went to the ground they continued a frenzied attack on him, kicking his head and one of them jumping on his head."

Both Pustelnik and Cybula had blood-alcohol ratings of more than three times the legal driving limit by lunch time on the day of the attack.

They have been given life sentence with a minimum of 15 years to serve in prison.

Read more on the BBC News website.

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