Fourth Man Jailed For Reece James Killing

5 July 2013, 12:47 | Updated: 5 July 2013, 19:12

A fourth man has been jailed over the killing of Reece James in Bournemouth.

The 21-year-old was shot at his flat at the junction of Roumelia Lane and Sea Road in Boscombe, on Wednesday 25th July 2012.

Jarome Parkinson, aged 25, from London was sentenced to 18 years in jail at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 5 July 2013.

Parkinson, Kieron Kenroy Wellington, aged 30 and of no fixed abode, and two other London men – Wayne Stephenson, aged 34 and Keifer Hutchinson, aged 23 – were found guilty of manslaughter on Thursday 6 June.

The convictions came after a complex investigation by Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation team.

Wellington, Stephenson and Hutchinson were each sentenced to 16 years behind bars on Friday 7 June, at Winchester Crown Court.

Addressing the guilty men, the judge, the Honourable Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, said:

"This was a joint enterprise in which each of you played a separate role. The jury found that a loaded shotgun was taken into the flat and none of you can have been in any doubt about the lethal nature of the firearm.

"It was the use of that firearm that contributed to Reece's death."

The men had planned to break into Reece's flat and steal money, drugs or other property, she said.

The Honourable Mrs Justice Nicola Davies also praised the 'lengthy and detailed work' of Dorset Police and thanked Reece's mother, Michelle, for her courage, dignity and restraint throughout the trial.

Reece's mother Michelle James issued a statement after the sentences:

"Reece was a loving, caring individual. He was the eldest of all my children and he was very influential in a positive way. He was very much a part of all the decisions I made with my immediate family.

"You can imagine the impact this has had on this family when a link has been removed from a chain, broken. It will never be the same.

"I come from a strong Christian family and what has held us together is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that very same vein the Lord forgave me, so I in turn forgive all those involved in taking Reece away.

"We will not forget."

Detective Superintendent Pam Trevillion, said:

“This verdict comes at the end of a complex investigation by Dorset Police working together with our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police and Kent Police as well as the Crown Prosecution Service.

“My thoughts are with Reece’s family at this difficult time and I hope that the verdict provides them with some closure."

A further defendant, a 23-year-old Bournemouth woman, was arrested and charged in September 2012. She was found not guilty by the jury on advice of the judge on Thursday 9 May 2013.

Keifer HutchinsonKieron Kenroy WellingtonJarome ParkinsonWayne Stephenson