Gang violence in Britain

The British seem to know how to deal with gang violence:

Four men convicted of murdering two friends at a party in Birmingham have been jailed for life.

Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were shot outside a hair salon in Aston on 2 January 2003.

Charlene's half-brother Marcus Ellis, 24, Michael Gregory, 22, and Nathan Martin, 26, must serve at least 35 years after being found guilty.

Rodrigo Simms, 20, also convicted of the murders, was sentenced to 27 years at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.

The judge handed a lesser sentence to Simms because of his younger age. He was 18 at the time of the incident.

The men were all convicted by majority verdicts, with the exception of Ellis, who was convicted unanimously.

Ellis and Simms' solicitor said they would appeal against the convictions.

A fifth defendant, Jermaine Carty, was cleared of possessing a firearm and walked free from court.

Mr Justice Goldring said on Monday the men showed no remorse and the "painstaking analysis" of the mobile phone evidence had formed the foundation of their conviction.

"The aggravating features are clear: this was gang warfare played out on the streets of Birmingham. Lethal weapons were used. The intention was to kill," he told Ellis, Gregory and Martin.

"Not a shred of remorse has been exhibited, moreover, and public interest demands the highest possible deterrent."

Letisha and Charlene were hit outside a party in Aston, Birmingham, on 2 January 2003 in what the jury was told was a botched gang attack.

Unlike in the United States, British judges don't see criminals as victims of society.