Thug on ‘final chance’ after leaving student brain damaged in brutal attack is spared jail AGAIN for glassing man in pub
A THUG on a “final chance” after leaving a student brain damaged in a brutal attack has been spared jail again for glassing a man in a pub.
Michael Murray was issued the warning by a judge after he walked free for his role in the horrific assault on Daniel Ezzedine in 2019.
The 22-year-old found himself back at court for a string of offences – including glassing a pub-goer and threatening his neighbour.
Murray was on a suspended sentence at the time of the violent crime spree – but has once again avoided jail.
He was this time handed 12-month jail term suspended for 18 months, which the judge described as a “tougher” punishment.
Judge Sarah Counsell added: “Today is your final chance. If you commit further offences I will have no option but to activate those suspended sentences.”
Murray, who has 13 previous convictions, was even handed back his XL bully dog that had been seized by police after his lawyer successfully argued he was “a fit and proper person” to own one.
The soft sentence has sparked fury from shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who declared: “He had 13 prior convictions, including causing brain damage.
“Three years ago he was given a ‘last and final chance’ by a judge. Yet he’s spared jail, again. Career criminals must be locked up.”
The thug first landed himself in court over the savage attack on German exchange student Daniel when he was aged 18.
Daniel was ambushed by a gang of nine yobs who beat him with a bag of bricks in June 2019.
The teen – then aged 17 – was left needing round the clock care and had to have part of his brain removed and metal plates inserted into his skull.
Daniel was initially given a 30 per cent chance of survival due to his horror injuries and was in hospital for a year.
Now aged 22, he still relies on a wheelchair, cannot move his right hand, and requires physio, speech and occupational therapy.
His brother Samir previously told how none of the attackers have apologised for the brutal assault.
Murray was handed a suspended sentence after admitting violent disorder for his part in the attack.
At the time, Judge Simon James said it was “a last and final chance to mend and change” his ways and that he needed to “grow up and be a good father” to his then unborn child.
Despite the warning, Murray continued to clock up convictions – including glassing the man at the Seven Stars pub in Canterbury, Kent, on April 6 this year.
His home was raided ten days for an unrelated matter when cops discovered he did not have an exemption certificate for his pet dog.
Then on April 19, Murray was given another suspended sentence for six offences relating to drugs, violence and driving matters.
Murray returned to his old ways less than a month later and smashed up his grandparent’s home.
The lout also threatened to “smash in” a neighbour’s face while armed with knives.
His own grandad told the court in a victim impact statement: “We do not want him to live here. He needs to leave home. We don’t want to put up with his behaviour.”
Murray’s lawyer argued he should be given a community-based punishment as he has now “matured”.
Imposing the suspended sentence, Judge Counsell said: “It is perhaps a tougher sentence for you to suspend the sentence and give you the opportunity of developing into the young man you are capable of developing into.”