Northampton family's anguish as CPS 'fails to tell them son's murderers have had sentences cut at Court of Appeal'

The CPS reportedly failed to tell the family, their lawyers, and even Northamptonshire Police that Reece Ottaway's killers had their sentences reduced
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The Crown Prosecution Service failed to tell the loved ones of Northampton's Reece Ottaway that his murderers had successfully had their sentences reduced at the Court of Appeal, the family told the Chronicle & Echo.

Reece Ottaway was stabbed to death by a murderous gang of four young men in a botched robbery for drugs and money at Cordwainer House in February 2019.

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But it has now emerged that the four killers have not only successfully challenged their sentences at the Court of Appeal and had their sentences reduced - but Reece's family say they were not told until it was already over.

Reece Ottaway was stabbed to death in a botched robbery at a flat in Cordwainer House in February 2019.Reece Ottaway was stabbed to death in a botched robbery at a flat in Cordwainer House in February 2019.
Reece Ottaway was stabbed to death in a botched robbery at a flat in Cordwainer House in February 2019.

It is also understood the Crown Prosecution Service failed to tell Northamptonshire Police about the verdict hearing on July 24.

A CPS spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family of Reece Ottaway. We apologise unreservedly for failing to notify them promptly of the outcome of the Appeal.

“We are looking into the reasons for this and will contact the family with a full explanation.”

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Reece's father David Ottaway told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's a kick in the teeth. I cannot see an excuse - this is what they do and they should know better.

Four of Reece's killers have successfully had two years each taken off their life sentences.Four of Reece's killers have successfully had two years each taken off their life sentences.
Four of Reece's killers have successfully had two years each taken off their life sentences.

"We only found out because a witness in the case got a letter that the hearing was over, but that means they were told before the family, the police and our barristers.

"The family should have been notified first. We're furious."

In November 2019, four men were sentenced for Reece's murder, in which they broke into the St James flat and expected to walk away with drugs and £30,000.

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When they left, they walked away with £10 and an iPhone - meanwhile, in the two minutes they had been inside, they had stabbed Reece seven times in what was called a "berserk" attack.

It has emerged the CPS did not notify Reece's loved ones, their lawyers or even the police that the four murderers were going to the Court of Appeal.It has emerged the CPS did not notify Reece's loved ones, their lawyers or even the police that the four murderers were going to the Court of Appeal.
It has emerged the CPS did not notify Reece's loved ones, their lawyers or even the police that the four murderers were going to the Court of Appeal.

Jordan Crowley, 22, and Adison Smith, 21, were sentenced to a minimum of 34 and 30 years in prison respectively.

Cameron Higgs, 21, and Alfie Drage, 21, were both sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison.

However, all four offenders appealed their sentences at the Court of Appeal in a hearing on July 9, with a verdict issued on July 24.

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It is understood Reece's loved ones were notified of the hearing on July 9 but were not notified of what happened at the hearing on July 24.

Court papers show that the justices who judged the case rejected all but one of the barristers' claims - that the judge in the case "did not give sufficient weight" to their young age at the time of offending and that they did not "have an intention to kill" in the robbery.

All four men had two years each deducted from their life sentences.

The report reads: "We have come to the conclusion that, despite the careful way in which the judge approached her task, at the end of the day the minimum terms imposed in these cases were manifestly excessive."

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"It's disgusting," said David Ottaway. "They're trying to clamp down on knife crime and they're here reducing sentences."

A fifth offender, Ethan Stirling, who was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter, did not appeal his sentence.

It comes after it emerged this week that the killer of Northampton's-own 17-year-old Louis Ryan Menezes - Amari Smith - has also had his nine year sentence for manslaughter reduced by a year at the Court of Appeal.

Editor's note: The original article has been amended to include, and reflect, the CPS comment.