THE men who beat Denis Witney to death will both serve at least 17 years behind bars.

There were sighs of relief in Oxford Crown Court yesterday when a jury unanimously found Wayne Cattell and Daniel McCollin guilty of the homeless man’s murder.

A third defendant, 29-year-old Joanne Moriarty, was found not guilty.

In November last year, Mr Witney was punched, kicked, hit with a beer can and stamped on inside a house in St Clement’s, Oxford.

Cattell, 37, of Mortimer Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, and McCollin, 30, of Blay Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, both admitted being in the house, but blamed each other for the murder.

Judge Patrick Eccles said that the brutal attack was committed by the two men together, after false allegations had been made to them about Mr Witney.

As a result of the brutal assault their victim suffered 26 separate injuries.

Mr Witney left the house but collapsed nearby in the doorway of the Marcus Roberts pianos shop, where he was found covered in blood.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital but died later of his injuries.

Both Cattell and McCollin were sentenced to life in prison. They must serve a minimum term of 17 years.

Judge Eccles said that the truth about why the murder had happened would probably never be known, because “too many lies have been told by too many people in this trial”.

Addressing McCollin and Cattell, he said: “This was a vicious and unrestrained attack on a helpless man.

“It involved a high degree of anger and violence and it is my judgment that both of you played an equal part.”

The guilty verdicts on the two men followed a five-week trial.

The judge praised the efforts of Thames Valley Police in conducting a “thorough and painstaking” investigation to try to establish what happened to Mr Witney.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Steve Tolmie said after the hearing: “Denis Witney was vulnerable, asleep and unable to defend himself when he was set upon for no reason.

“They repeatedly punched and kicked him about the head and upper body and then left him outside wearing nothing but his underwear.

“This was a callous attack that left a mother without a son. Our thoughts very much remain with all the family and friends of Denis Witney.”

After the verdict was announced Mr Witney’s mother Karen said that she was pleased that justice had been done.

She added: “Denis’s family are relieved that the two men, McCollin and Cattell, were found guilty of murder. It was the right decision. We accept the decision of the jury and know that it was a very hard case for them, due to the amount of lies told by the defendants.

“Nothing will bring Denis back and we hope he can now rest in peace, knowing that justice was done in the case of those who did the damage and took his life.

“He will be loved forever by so many who knew Denis before his addiction to alcohol took over and ruined what should have been a successful and happy life.”