THE father of two brothers starting life sentences for the brutal killing of a newsagent is himself a murderer, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Sam McKinley and Jon McKinley were yesterday told they would have to serve at least 28 years behind bars for the horrific murder of Choudhry Zishan in Eastleigh High Street.

The Daily Echo has learned that the brothers' father is himself serving time for murder - and has been locked up for nearly 20 years.

Daily Echo:

Samuel McKinley senior was jailed for life at Winchester Crown Court in November 1996 after stabbing Robin Stoddart to death at a flat in Onslow Road, Southampton (above).

McKinley senior, then 35, attacked drinking companion Mr Stoddart, 40, after a two-day binge in January 1996. Mr Stoddart bled to death after an artery in his thigh was severed.

In a episode with terrible echoes in the murder of Mr Zishan he told the court that he was so drunk he could not remember what had happened.

That was the same story as Jon McKinley told Winchester Crown Court during his and brother Sam's trial for murdering Mr Zishan.

McKinley senior is currently serving his sentence in a jail in Northern Ireland. Newspapers have reported that he was a member of the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association.

In jail McKinley senior failed to satisfy the independent Parole Commissioners that he was safe to be released on licence so spent 12 years behind bars before absconding in 2009 while on a pre-release scheme.

His sons, who were also drunk on the night of their murder, have expressed little or no remorse and showed no emotion as they were led away.

They could be heard shouting to each other as they were led down to the cells. There were cries of disbelief from the public gallery above the courtroom.

The sentence means the pair will not be eligible for parole until 2042. Sam McKinley, 25, will be 53, his brother, 51.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Griffith Williams, said: “Choudhry Zishan was a thoroughly decent and hard working man. It was his misfortune to chance upon you both as he walked to his car on his way to work shortly before 4.30am on Sunday March 30.

“You set about him in a brutal and prolonged attack, leaving him almost dead.”

The judge said the brothers had set out that evening looking for trouble and their motive in attacking Mr Zishan was robbery.

He said: “It was you, Jonathon McKinley who started the attack, indeed I am sure you were responsible for the greater part of the violence, but you, Samuel McKinley played a very willing part in the attack, joining in at some point.

“The evidence established that Mr Zishan at some point cried out 'you are hurting me, you are hurting me', described by Mrs Johnson as the 'most horrendous sound' but you continued the attack.”

The judge said Jon had showed no remorse, while Sam's counsel Bill Mousley QC expressed sadness on behalf of his client in his mitigation speech.

“The witness box is a very revealing place, in all the time you (Sam) were there, there was no hint of remorse,” said the judge.

The court heard that Sam had 13 convictions for 26 offences including seven assaults. He served a six-year sentence and was released in December 2012.

Jon had 21 convictions for 45 offences including two aggravated burglaries.

Daily Echo:

Murder victim Choudhry Zishan

Andrew Langdon QC, prosecuting, read a statement from Sabina, Mr Zishan's widow.

“On March 30 the day my husband was murdered, since then I don't know how to be happy or how to manage my life without him. He was the best husband, my best friend and supporter. My nights have become sleepless.

“We had planned a lot of things for our new baby. I'm struggling with life since he is gone. When I see a couple I cry because I am going to be alone for the rest of my life. I'm scared of what will happen to my kids when I am gone.

“I'm a widow at the age of 30. There are no words to explain how my and my kids lives are suffering without him,” it said.

After the hearing, Det Supt Paul Barton, said: “I'm extremely pleased. There's a sense of justice for the family and they are pleased with the result.”