In a shocking turn of events, three of the UK’s most dangerous prisoners have been handed whole-life sentences for the murder of child killer Kyle Bevan. The attack, which took place at HMP Wakefield, has sent shockwaves through the criminal justice system and highlighted the complexities of prison dynamics.
The trio, Mark Fellows, Lee Newell, and David Taylor, were convicted of stabbing Bevan more than 25 times in his cell. The court heard how they used makeshift weapons, including a metal part from the back of a television, to carry out the brutal attack. The killers then arranged Bevan’s body in bed to make it appear as though he was asleep.
The killers’ criminal histories
Mark Fellows, known as ‘The Iceman’ or ‘Wakefield Dexter’, was already serving a whole-life term for two gangland assassinations. He was convicted of shooting Salford ‘Mr Big’ John Massey and Merseyside enforcer John Kinsella. Fellows’ ruthlessness and calm demeanor earned him his chilling nicknames.
Lee Newell, 57, was serving a whole-life term for double murder. He was first jailed in 1989 for strangling a neighbor and received another whole-life order in 2013 for a similar prison murder. Newell lost an eye in a previous prison attack, adding to his fearsome reputation.
David Taylor, 64, was on remand awaiting trial for the murder of Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin when he joined Fellows and Newell in the attack on Bevan. Taylor had lured a detective to HMP Frankland, claiming he had information about Apostoloff-Boyarin’s disappearance. Instead, he produced a concealed weapon and stabbed the officer close to the heart. The officer miraculously survived.
The victim’s background
Kyle Bevan, 33, was serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 28 years for the murder of his partner’s two-year-old daughter, Lola James. The court heard how Bevan inflicted 101 separate injuries on the toddler, including a catastrophic head injury. Bevan had initially claimed that a dog had pushed Lola down the stairs, but this was later disproven.
Bevan was classified as a ‘vulnerable’ prisoner at HMP Wakefield due to his heinous crimes. The prison’s policy of housing vulnerable prisoners alongside ‘mainstream’ inmates led to increased tensions and a ‘distorted moral hierarchy’ among the prisoners.
The aftermath and sentencing
At Leeds Crown Court, Mrs Justice McGowan imposed ‘new and separate’ whole-life orders on Fellows and Newell. Taylor also received a whole-life order for Bevan’s murder, as well as for the murder of Apostoloff-Boyarin and the attempted murder of the police officer. This means they will never be released from prison.
There are only around 75 whole-life prisoners in the country, including notorious criminals like Wayne Couzens, Rose West, and Levi Bellfield. The sentences reflect the gravity of the crimes and the justice system’s response to murders committed even by those already imprisoned for life.
The case has raised questions about prison security and the treatment of vulnerable inmates. It has also highlighted the complexities of prison dynamics and the moral hierarchies that can emerge among inmates.
