A LAWYER has described the horrific murder of Robert Sempey as "one of the most disturbing cases I have ever had to deal with".

Sarah Gray, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Mersey-Cheshire CPS, was the reviewing lawyer of the case which concluded with the sentencings of Ian Robertson and Kirsty Jervis today.

Robertson, 33, of Beilby Road, Haydock was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 21 years in custody for the murder of 37-year-old Mr Sempey.

Jervis, 30, of the same address, was imprisoned for two years and eight months for assisting an offender after helping to clean up after the killing and failing to alert police in the wake of Mr Sempey's murder.

Mr Sempey was stabbed at least 12 times on the night of Friday, January 19, at Robertson's address on Beilby Road in a horrendous attack - including to the head, neck and chest with a weapon described as a carver knife.

Robertson's nine-year-old son was upstairs at the time of the attack and was said to have heard "a choking noise from downstairs" and heard Robertson ask for help moving the body.

The court was told that Robertson recorded a "sadistic" video on a mobile phone of Mr Semepy's final moments in which he taunted his victim, asking him if he "wants to tell his children he loves them" and expressing feigned incredulity that Mr Sempey was still alive, calling him the Terminator and humming the film's theme tune before stabbing him several more times.

Mr Sempey's body was then dragged into the property's back garden half-naked and covered by two doors for more than 24 hours.

Sarah Gray said: “This is one of the most disturbing cases I have ever had to deal with.

“Both Robertson and Jervis pleaded guilty to the offences, sparing Mr Sempey's relatives and the Jury from having to hear the dreadful recording of his last moments.

“The reason why Robertson killed Mr Sempey has not been established. At one point, the men seemed to be getting along well but that deteriorated.

“My thoughts are with Robert Sempey’s family and the Crown Prosecution Service extends condolences to them at this very difficult time.”

Police described Robert's killing as "callous" and Robertson's filming of part of the attack as "incredibly shocking".

After the sentencings today, Detective Inspector Matt Smith said: "Today our thoughts are with the family of Robert, who have suffered unimaginable pain as a result of the violent manner of his death.

"The callous way Robertson carried out Robert’s killing, and the fact he chose to film part of the attack, will be incredibly shocking and upsetting for the community and has compounded the grief his family have endured since he died. The assistance Jervis provided to Robertson has also caused the family incredible upset.

Inspector Smith added: "Robertson and Jervis claimed to be Robert’s friend, and he went to their address believing he was going to have an enjoyable evening. Tragically, Robertson had other ideas and events took an unspeakably tragic turn.

"There is no place in our communities for people who commit such violent and horrendous crimes, and this sentence reflects the severity of the offence and how seriously police, CPS and the courts have taken it.

"While it will not undo what has been done, I hope the sentence will in time give the family some sense of closure."