Jamie Dack bin body killers appeal length of sentences

Four people jailed for life for killing a homeless man in Southampton and burning his body in a bin have launched an appeal against the length of their sentences.

The charred remains of Jamie Dack, 22, were discovered in a bin at Empress Road Industrial Estate on 8 April 2012.

Ryan Woodmansey, Andrew Dwyer-Skeats, Donna Chalk and Lee Nicholls were jailed for murder in June 2013.

Dwyer-Skeats and Chalk are also challenging their convictions.

Earlier at London's High Court, defence barristers argued the four were not guilty of "sadistic conduct", as the sentencing judge had told them.

Instead, they said, it was a "bad example of group violence".

Chalk's barrister said she was only 20 when found guilty, and there had been an "incorrect assessment of her as a mature manipulator".

She was, her barrister said, "a young vulnerable woman".

Lord Justice Treacy said he would consider the case and pass judgement at a later date.

Nicholls, Dwyer-Skeats, Woodmansey and Chalk were told they would serve a minimum of 34, 32, 30 and 25 years respectively.

During the trial, jurors heard how the four locked Mr Dack in a flat at Bevois Mews in the city and attacked him with a baseball bat, bottles and knives.

The gang forced him to hand over his Pin number and stole his laptop, and killed him to stop him from going to police.