Man serving life sentence tried to strangle gay inmate after relationship

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

A man who is currently serving a life sentence for murdering his brother has been sentenced for trying to kill a gay inmate after a brief relationship.

In 2004, Robert Livesey was sent to Wakefield Prison in Yorkshire for life after the murder of his half-brother, the Yorkshire Post reports.

After a relationship with a gay inmate soured, Livesey plotted to kill him by luring him into his cell in April, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Livesey, 29, had been in a relationship with Aaron Keenan for about a week, but had then told him it would go no further. Livesey said Keenan had been known to “mess people around”, and attempted to strangle him the next day.

He admitted attempted murder, saying: “I fully deserve what I get. The guy I tried to kill didn’t deserve it.”

Mr Justice Openshaw told Livesey he must serve a minimum of seven and a half years for the attempted murder, alongside the ten and a half years he must complete for the murder of his brother.

The Prison Service has been in the news this week after a report said staff at Feltham Young Offenders Institute in London had opposed putting up posters portraying positive images of LGBT inmates.