Cathedral's tribute to victim Ecky a year on

THE family of Michael Eccles are braced for the first anniversary of the dad-of-five's murder when Lichfield Cathedral will be illuminated in his memory.

Mr Eccles – known to all as "Ecky" – died on January 26 last year, the day after he was savagely beaten by city youths Carl Keatley and Jordan Carroll.

The popular 43-year-old's devastated widow Yvonne is still taking life on a day-to-day basis, struggling to get by without the man who was "the hub" of the family.

"It is soul-destroying having to live without Michael," she said this week.

"There is always that question 'why?'.

"Why was he stolen from us so horrifically? And why didn't they get the punishment that fits the crime?

"Our kids have to live without their adored dad, his mum is living without her beloved son and I have lost the love of my life, my soulmate, everything to me.

"Yet we all still don't really believe what's happened – we all wait for him to come home.

"Michael, wherever you are resting, shine on you crazy diamond."

Lichfield Cathedral was inundated with mourners at Mr Eccles' funeral and on Monday the building will be lit up in his memory from 8pm until midnight.

The sentences handed down to Mr Eccles' killers at Birmingham Crown Court last year have been widely condemned as too lenient – and open to the possibility that the culprits could be free again while still young men.

Carl Keatley, 21, of Greencroft, was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years.

Sixteen-year-old Jordan Carroll of Windmill Close – who was 15 at the time of the senseless attack – must serve at least 11 years.

The trial heard how they "literally kicked in" their victim's head just yards from his Weston Road home, raining down blows on the front, back and both sides of his skull.

Afterwards, Carroll's father Edward tried to help his son cover up the crime by putting his blood-stained clothes in the washing machine and cleaning blood off him.

He was jailed for three years for perverting the course of justice.

Keatley, whose defence partly hung on his loss of a leg to cancer, and Carroll both denied murder.

Although the brutal drunken attack and its ghastly aftermath will never be forgotten, Mr Eccles' brother-in-law John Bayliss said 'life has to go on'.

This week he appealed for any kind-hearted members of the community planning to lay floral tributes to instead donate money to charity.

"A great deal of thanks go from us all to the local community for their help throughout this dreadful period," he said.

"Staffordshire Police have been absolutely fantastic and ROM [where Mr Eccles was production manager] has continued to help the family."

With the anniversary approaching, Mr Bayliss said the family was bravely trying not to be 'too morbid'. Life does have to go on and we are getting on with our lives as best we can," he said.

Commander of Lichfield neighbourhood policing unit, Inspector Jed White, said: "Our thoughts are very much with Mr Eccles' family and we will do anything we can to help them in this difficult time.

"In the past 12 months the North Lichfield Initiative, the police and PCSOs have done a huge amount of work in the area.

"We continue to battle on dealing with crime and antisocial behaviour and if anyone has any information about ASB and violence, please get in touch as soon as possible."