15 years for Leeds fans' killer

A soccer thug who stabbed to death two Leeds United fans in Istanbul has been jailed for 15 years.

Former soldier Ali Umit Demir, a known heroin user, was found guilty of killing with provocation by three Turkish judges.

The leader of a 100-strong gang known as the Night Watchmen attacked Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight after both had travelled to Turkey for a Uefa Cup semi-final against Galatasaray.

Five others were found guilty of involvement in the killings and given sentences of a few months each. Two other Turkish suspects charged with the murders remain at large. The court acquitted 13 other defendants after prosecutors-said there was not enough evidence.

During the trial, Demir, 23, admitted-grabbing a knife and hitting out during the trouble, but said he did not know who he had hit. He claimed that before the men were stabbed he saw drunk Leeds supporters harassing women and making obscene gestures using the Turkish flag.

His lawyer told the court the English fans provoked the attack. "In the heart of Istanbul, they abused the Turkish flag. With broken bottles in their hands, they started the fighting."

However, lawyers for the families of the two dead men told the court that video evidence proved they had done nothing to disrespect the Turkish flag. Earlier in the case, prosecutors had reduced the maximum sentence for Demir and the other suspects charged with killing the English fans from 30 to 15 years, because it was not clear if any of the defendants was the sole cause of the deaths.

The guilty man, who has been in custody for two years, is expected to appeal.

The trouble broke out at about 9pm on 5 April 2000 near Taksim Square. Leeds fans had arrived in the hours before to be greeted by banners which said: "Welcome to Hell".

In the melee Galatasaray supporters and Leeds fans struck each other with fists, feet, chairs and bottles. Pub landlord Mr Speight, 40, was reportedly attacked by a large group of men armed with machetes and knives.

He was taken to the German Hospital but the father of two died later that night. Fibre-optics engineer Mr Loftus, 37 and single, was also killed in the clashes. Four other Leeds fans were injured, one seriously.