THE family of murder victim Peter Robinson has hit out at the justice system, after one of his killers had his sentence cut.

"It's totally wrong," said brother Alan Robinson, after hearing that killer Paul Darch had his two-year jail term reduced to 18 months.

Alan, from Acomb, said: "This reduced sentence is adding to our hurt and pain.

"We're the victims of this decision. Darch has been given more consideration than our family. He has got a life - Peter has not."

Darch, of Horsman Avenue, York, was convicted of 50-year-old Peter Robinson's manslaughter on November 8, but is now expected to be out of prison in time for Christmas.

Mr Justice Peregrine Simon showed mercy to the 47-year-old after hearing how he would face eviction if he was forced to remain in jail until the end of his original sentence.

Barrister Paul Williams said in a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London that Darch would not receive housing benefit while in prison.

If his release were delayed until March next year - as it would have been under the original jail term - he would have built up £750 in arrears, inevitably resulting in City of York Council seeking possession of his flat and leaving him homeless.

But Alan said this put the arrears cost at a higher value than his brother's life - and he argued that Darch should have been jailed for longer in the first place.

"The way the judge put it, he would lose £750 in housing benefit if he didn't get released from prison - so £750 was worth more than Peter's brutal killing. What's a life worth?" he said.

"I put my trust in the judicial system.

"I went through a hefty custodial sentence for violence, which in my opinion I deserved. I thought the system dealt with me justly, but I feel that 18 months for involvement in somebody's death is very unjust.

"Darch will get his comeuppance, probably not in this life, but in the next life.

"I hope he can move on from what he's done."

Alan said he was now trying to get his life together, and had been staunchly supported by his partner over the traumatic months since his brother's tragic death.

Two other men, John Wood, 39, and Wilfred Barlow, 44, were found guilty of murdering Peter Robinson, and were each jailed for life.

At the original sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Simon said he was imposing the two-year term on Darch because of his mental limitations and his limited role in the killing.

Updated: 09:37 Wednesday, November 30, 2005