'This is a tragic case' Judge tells Phillip Sherriff murder trial
– Judge Paul Worsley"This is a tragic case. Mr Sherriff may have pushed you in a crowded bar and made inoffensive remarks to a girl talking to you.
"You clearly became annoyed at what you perceived was the conduct of Mr Sherriff and lost your temper when he may have pushed against you at the bar."
Charles took a beer bottle from Mr Sherriff's hand and swung it behind him, where it broke, and then plunged it into Mr Sherriff's neck.
"It was a lethal weapon. He was a decent man," the judge added.
He said Charles had done something "which was truly out of character".
– Judge Worsley"You did not deliberately smash the bottle you used. I am satisfied you did not intend to kill Mr Sherriff and you were immediately remorseful."
Andrew Hall QC, for Charles, said he acted "in a split second of madness".
Designer jailed for murdering Preston dad-of-two
A graphic designer was jailed for a minimum of 14 years today for killing telephone executive Phillip Sherriff with a broken bottle.
Phillip Sherriff 'killed by bottle cut to neck'
A telephone executive died after being slashed in the neck with a broken beer bottle at a corporate event, jurors have heard.