close
close
  • February 11, 2025
Hull: Men who killed Jonathan Hutty over missing bank card jailed

Hull: Men who killed Jonathan Hutty over missing bank card jailed

Sentencing the pair, Judge Penelope Moreland said the severity of Hutty’s multiple injuries was comparable to that of someone falling from a multi-storey building.

The attack was so violent that Smalley suffered a foot injury, the court heard.

Judge Moreland told the pair: “Neither of you showed the slightest remorse.”

“You both said he was a friend, but I don’t see any evidence of that,” she added.

The judge said Leaning had used Smalley’s bank card and he was “becoming increasingly fearful” that his friend would become angry with him, so pointed the finger at Mr Hutty.

A victim impact statement from Mr Hutty’s sisters was read out in court by the prosecutor, describing their sibling as ‘happy go lucky’ who always helped people ‘no matter what’.

They explained how they “lost a kind, caring brother because of the unnecessary violent actions” of Smalley and Leaning.

The court heard the pair had a string of previous convictions. Smalley’s previous crimes, which date back to the late 1980s, include assault, arson, burglary and theft.

In mitigation, Smalley’s barrister Peter Moulson KC said the defendant had a degree of remorse over the death of his long-time friend.

Smalley, of Hutt Street, Hull, initially denied murder but admitted the charge when he changed his plea two days after the trial.

Leaning, 51, of Padstow House, Hull, pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter but was convicted of the latter charge by a jury last week.

A third man, Leon Smith, 23, of Grasby Road, Hull, denied murder and manslaughter but was cleared of both charges.

All three were initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but later charged with murder following Mr Hutty’s death.