Life sentences for businessman's murder
Two brothers who murdered businessman Peter Davis will consider an appeal as they were today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Hall said the murder had "commenced with anger, continued with brutality and concluded with the callous contempt for the life of another".
Ambrose, 49, and Xavier, 47, Clarke were accused of luring Mr Davis to his death in May 2011.
After a Supreme Court trial which lasted seven weeks, a jury took less than three hours to convict the brothers of murdering Mr Davis.
The trial was told Ambrose Clarke had believed Mr Davis owed him more than $300,000 after the breakdown of their business relationship two years earlier.
Mr Davis' relieved family welcomed the sentences handed to the Clarkes.
His son Kurt said they were "very happy with the outcome".
"We've finally got justice for dad," he said.
"We have all struggled as a family but we've held it together. We'd like thank the Major Crime Squad - they've been unreal - and the lawyers.
“Finally we've got some justice. That's 18 years we don't have to think about them."
Outside court, Ambrose and Xavier Clarke's sister Monique-Bertino Clarke revealed they were considering an appeal.
"Today's sentence is yet another painful blow to our family. The litany of wrongful convictions continues to grow in Western Australia," she said.
"An innocent man is dead and two innocent men are in jail for life for a crime they did not commit."
Brother Marcus Clarke said his siblings maintained their innocence and criticised the justice system.
"It is disturbing and disappointing that the jury failed to abide by the trial judge's direction to consider all the evidence before returning a verdict," he said.
“The conduct of police throughout, particularly members from the Major Crime Squad was deplorable, unprofessional and unlawful.
“This is another shameful example of police practice within Western Australia which has resulted in two men being wrongfully arrested, wrongfully charged and wrongfully convicted.
“This battle is far from over."
Mr Davis' mother Madeline appeared overjoyed by the sentence.
