04/13/2002 "Brighton Killers Who Murdered Gay Eccentric Get Life"

Brighton Killers Who Murdered Gay Eccentric Get Life

A fight broke out between two men as they were convicted on life terms of the murder of gay eccentric Billy Carmichael.

Police and prison officers jumped into the dock at Lewes Crown Court to separate Richard Price, 25, and Richard Sumner, 35, after a jury found them guilty of killing the 63-year-old hotel worker.

They had both denied murder.

Both were alcoholics who had befriended Mr Carmichael. They kicked him to death after a row, put him to bed and left him to die in his blood-splattered flat.

Mrs Justice Rafferty sentenced Sumner and Price to life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Carmichael at his flat in Lower Rock Gardens, Brighton, on November 14, 2000.

Hours after attacking Mr Carmichael, Price and Sumner were out drinking and boasting they had murdered someone.

Forensic tests showed blood on the two men's shoes came from the dead man. Price told the court he hit Mr Carmichael because he was a "child molester"and a "paedophile".