Two Men Jailed For Life For Northampton Murder

1 August 2014, 12:42 | Updated: 1 August 2014, 13:11

Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for murdering Jamie McMahon in a Northampton churchyard.

Mark Lewis, who's 20 and from the town, will serve at least 20 years and eight months in prison. 33 year old Michael Francis, also from Northampton, has been given at least 26 years.

They both beat 26 year old Jamie to death while he was walking home from a night out in October last year.

Detective Inspector Louise Hemingway said: “We are pleased with the significant jail terms handed down to Lewis and Francis today.

“They are both extremely dangerous individuals who targeted a young man who was on his way home from an evening out with friends, for no other reason than to steal from him.

“Hopefully these lengthy prison sentences will provide some closure to Jamie’s family, who have been left heartbroken by this senseless murder.”

Jamie's Family Released This Statement Last Month:

"Now that the past 10 months and a painful chapter in our lives is over and has ended with a successful prosecution, we are not celebrating, as in this case there are no winners only losers – although we have lost the most, our dearly loved son and brother, Jamie.

Jamie was loved by everyone who knew him and was the life and soul of the party. He was the king of the one-liner and would go out of his way to help others before himself.

On the 1st of October last year, Jamie left home with the intention of playing snooker with his friends, having a few pints and then returning home.

But he never came home.

Words can never describe the anguish and worry our family endured, hearing of a person being found in a churchyard and then being told that our loving son had been brutally murdered.

A day never goes by when we don’t think of Jamie.

We will never see the day when he would get married, he was never given the opportunity to start a family and become a loving father and husband.

People say time is great healer, but in this case it never will be. As a family, we are broken, and a large piece of us is missing.

We would like to thank all the people who have helped us through this difficult time, from our fantastic family and friends, including Jamie’s friends and the wider community, to the police officers and backroom staff for the incredible amount of work they have done to get justice for Jamie.

We would also like to say a special thank you to Detective Constable Dave Melling, who has been at our side throughout.

We respectfully request that our family is now left alone so we can try to come to terms with the tragic loss of Jamie."