TOP judges declined to jail a man who covered up the brutal murder of gay teenager Michael Causer – despite finding that his original suspended sentence was too lenient.
Michael Binstead, 19, received a 34-week sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting perverting the course of justice over the murder of 18-year-old hairdresser Michael, who was beaten and kicked to death in Huyton last year.
Lord Justice Keene, sitting with Mrs Justice Dobbs and Judge Michael Stokes, QC, said Binstead's crime would normally have merited immediate custody. But he said Binstead had ultimately co-operated with the prosecution and was of previous good character, and it would now serve little purpose to jail him.
