TRIAL: Murderers jailed for total of 98 years

A gang of four found guilty of murdering Sunningdale father Shaleem Amar have been put behind bars for a total of 98 years today.

Derek Johnston, 57, Ben Johnston, 27, Tom Johnston, 25, all of Town Lane, Pampisford, Cambridge, and Shaun Matthews, 55, of Whittlesford, Cambridge, were sentenced at Reading Crown Court.

They were found guilty of the murder of Mr Amar, 33, at his Hancocks Mount home in Sunningdale on November 17 last year.

Johnston senior was jailed for 28 years, Ben Johnston, 25 years, Tom Johnston, 20 years and Matthews 25 years.

The father-of-three was found by police in the back of a van partially buried in sand having been bludgeoned to near death by lump hammers.

Police found Mr Amar after carrying out a random stop-and-search in Sunningdale High Street after reports a high-value burglary had been carried out in the area.

The four had planned the murder buying a spade, lump hammers, a one tonne rubble bag, latex gloves, and wheelbarrow from a builders merchant in Cambridgeshire the day before and on the day.

Judge Zoe Smith, sentencing, said was Mr Amar was cornered in the kitchen of his home and 'brutally attacked' and it had been planned more than a week before.

She said: "Had you not been spotted in the act (by police) you would have buried Mr Amar in some discreet location."

No clear motive was given but the prosecution said it was about 'money and greed', in connection with a business dispute or a £15,000 loan repayment.

Derek and Ben Johnston were partners of the victim they knew as Max, running different operations as part of a fraud racket.