Sunningdale Murders: Life Sentences

20 December 2011, 12:44 | Updated: 20 December 2011, 12:54

Four Cambridgeshire men, convicted of murdering a dad of three in Berkshire, have each been sentenced to life in prison.

33 year old Shaleem Amar [pictured - right] was found dying in the back of a van in the village of Sunningdale in November 2010.

He had suffered fatal injuries after being attacked at his home with hammers bought from a building merchants in Cambridgeshire.

Robert Johnston, known as Derek, aged 57, and his two sons Ben, aged 27 and Tom, aged 25, all of Town Lane, Pampisford, along with a fourth man Shaun Matthews, aged 56, of Duxford Road, Cambridge, were found guilty of Mr Amar’s murder following a six-week trial at Reading Crown Court.

Today (Tuesday), Robert Johnston was sentenced to a minimum term of 28 years imprisonment.

Ben Johnston was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years.

Tom Johnston was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years.

Shaun Matthews was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years.

Following the convictions, Mr Amar’s mother Flora Amar, from London, and his uncle Zafar Ismail, said: "The news that all four men have been convicted of Shaleem’s murder has been received with a sigh of great relief by his family and friends after 13 months of so torturous and agonising waiting.

Both of us on behalf of all the family and friends would like to express our deep gratitude and great appreciation for the prosecution barristers, Noel Lucas QC and Matthew Walsh for their professionalism and passion for justice, police family liaison officers Densel McIntosh and Melanie Ward for their loving care and dedication, and also Det Sgt Mark Davis and the investigation team for their meticulous hard work and dedication on this case."