TWO Co Antrim men were handed sentences totalling 31 years during a court appearance on Tuesday for the "unmerciful and savage murder'' of a man.
Samuel Atcheson (36), of Crebilly Road, Ballymena was told by Madam Justice McBride that he will serve a minimum of 16 years in prison before he would be eligible to apply to the Parole Commissioners for release.
Steven Arthur Hunter (32), of Lantara, Ballymena, will serve a minimum of 15 years in custody.
Both men previously pleaded guilty to the murder of Donald Fraser-Rennie.
Mr Fraser-Rennie was found dead "in a pool of blood' at Atcheson's first floor Crebilly Road flat after police were alerted.
It was the prosecution case that the father-of-three died as a result of a "unmerciful, prolonged and sustained attack'' on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 29, 2020.
Last month, Belfast Crown Court was played a brief 58 second video which recorded part of the attack during which Hunter threatened to "stab Mr Fraser-Rennie in the trunk''.
Senior prosecution counsel Ciaran Murphy KC said the 33-year-old victim, who was originally from England, died as a result of a "beating and had been subjected to gratuitous violence''.
He said following the murder, Atcheson sent a Facebook message to a relative saying: "There is a dead man in my flat.''
A 999 call was received in the early hours of the following morning, October 30, from Atcheson who told a call handler: "We need your assistance at 5D Crebilly Road as soon as possible. A male has been beat up. Believed to be dead.
"It is quite a gory scene. We have literally just arrived on the scene. At the moment all we have is Donald.''
Police found the deceased was "lying on his back with no pulse, was cold and his face was indented''.
When police asked Atcheson what happened, he replied: "It was Steven Hunter. He is away to his girlfriend's flat. Hunter put a screw driver into Donald's face''.
"The officer noted there was dried blood on the toes of Atcheson's white trainers.'' Paramedics arrived and confirmed the death at 1.09 am.
An autopsy recorded death was due to "blunt force trauma of the head and chest, with compressions to the neck and acute alcohol intoxication. There were multiple blows to the head consistent with him being the victim of a sustained physical assault with punches, kicks, stamps and blows with a weapon. He had nine fractured ribs and there was bleeding on the brain''.
Phone records between Atcheson and his then girlfriend showed there was "some hostility'' between him and the deceased over claims Mr Fraser-Rennie had stolen money and prescription drugs from his flat.
She later told police that on October 29, 2020, Atcheson contacted her by video call and the camera was turned towards the deceased who was "lying on the floor lifeless with blood coming from his mouth''.
Both defendants were arrested and when Hunter was put in handcuffs officers noted "blood staining around his fingernails''.
Atcheson blamed Hunter for all the injuries the victim sustained.
During Tuesday's tariff hearing, Madam Justice McBride said she had carefully read a victim impact statement from Mr Fraser-Rennie's partner Mary Cotton about the "devastating impact his death has had on her and her children''.
Ms Cotton attended court for the tariff hearing and was visibly upset after the sentences were passed.
Commenting after the sentencing, Mairead Lavery, a senior prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), said the men had attempted to conceal evidence before they both tried to "blame the other".
She said the PPS worked with the police to build a robust case which involved the recovery of mobile phones records, CCTV footage and forensic evidence.
Det Insp Claire McGarvey said that attack had been brutal and the actions that followed were callous.
"The life of a loving fiancé and father was taken in the most brutal and shocking of attacks, and there are no words that can ease their pain," she added.