Life sentence for 'savage' attack

6:58pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Comments (9)   Have your say »

A groom who turned his best man into a human fireball then fled to Oxford has been jailed for life.

Wayne Barnes repeatedly battered John Maynard over the head after breaking into his flat.

Then, as the father-of-two lay helpless, he set fire to him in a bid to kill him.

The brutal attack came just a month after Mr Maynard had paid for Barnes's wedding and given him furniture for the flat he shared with his new wife Melissa.

Judge David Rennie described what Barnes did as an "act of unspeakable savagery" and ruthless betrayal.

The judge said that Barnes should not be considered for parole for at least 15 years.

After leaving Mr Maynard for dead, Barnes stole the removal firm boss's safe containing £30,000 and fled in the victim's car to Oxford, where he used the victim's store card and documents to assume his identity, buy a mobile phone and call prostitutes.

Mr Maynard, 37, suffered horrific injuries in the attack, and lay close to death for several hours before he was found by police in his blood-soaked flat in Littlehampton, Sussex.

He suffered 40 per cent burns and both his legs had to be amputated below the knee. He also lost the fingers on his left hand and has been left with permanent brain damage after his skull was fractured in eight places.

Barnes, of Shelby Road, Durrington, Worthing, was found guilty of attempted murder at Hove Crown Court, last Tuesday.

Judge David Rennie told Barnes: "In an act of unspeakable savagery and ruthless betrayal, you decided to kill the man who had been a close friend to you.

"He had given you money when you needed it, gave you employment, paid for your wedding and agreed to be your best man."