Tobiasz Minski's killer jail term cut

Dec 2 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DEBT-ridden former soldier who was jailed for the murder of a Polish student has won a three-year reduction in his minimum jail term.

But Daniel Sykes must still serve at least 24 years for killing 23-year-old Tobiasz Minski on a lonely canal towpath between Slaithwaite and Marsden.

Sykes, 26, of Royd Street, Slaithwaite, had been told he must serve 27 years when he was convicted of the murder at Bradford Crown Court in June, but this was reduced at the Court Of Appeal in London yesterday.

Sykes was not in court to hear the decision.

Yesterday’s decision, by Lord Justice Stanley Burnton, Mr Justice Bennett and Judge Martin Stephens QC, means Sykes will be free to apply for his release after serving 24 years.