Остров Невезения

^{Hampshire | Archive | 2001 | November | 27}

Drink fuelled brother killing

From the archive, first published Tuesday 27th Nov 2001.

A MOTHER says she bears no ill will to her son after he killed her other son in a drunken fight.

Ivars Sondors, 28, a Latvian, punched his brother Gunar, 34, in a brawl at a flat in Northumberland Road, St Mary's, Southampton, on Boxing Day last year.

The fight erupted following a dispute over Gunar playing loud music when Ivars was asleeping. The fatal two or three blows were moderate but had devastating consequences, causing a brain haemorrhage.

Gunar died on December 29 without regaining consciousness. Ivars was jailed for 33 months at Winchester Crown Court yesterday.

Now the brothers» elderly widowed mother looks after her dead son's two daughters, one of whom has cerebral palsy, and one of Ivar's two daughters on a meagre pension.

Nigel Pascoe QC, prosecuting, said: «The heart of this case is the tragic killing of one brother by another. It is unlikely Ivars set out to inflict serious harm.

«But he went further than he should have done in legitimate self-defence.»

Sondors denied murder but yesterday pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the prosecution.

His mother, Maria Sondors, travelled from Latvia to see her son sentenced. Speaking through an interpreter, she said: «Ivars and Gunar had a close and warm relationship as boys growing up. Gunar was like a father figure to him. He looked after him when he was a baby. I am not well. Gunar's elder daughter suffers from cerebral palsy and she cannot use her arms and legs.

«I feel sad for both Ivars and Gunar. But I cannot do anything about it. I hope Ivars will return home to help me. I'm having problems renting the flat and need support. I bear him no ill will.»

Oliver Blunt, defending, said as soon as Sondors realised his brother was hurt he tried to save him, giving desperate resuscitation. «Witnesses heard him begging his brother to breathe, saying `please breathe, open your eyes».

«He has been living with the consequences of that incident ever since. He is devastated by the death and it will haunt him for the rest of his life.»

Mr Blunt said Sondors planned to go home to look after his family and brother's children as soon as he is released.

After sentencing, the judge, Mr Justice Silber paid tribute to the Southampton detectives who investigated the case, and made several trips to Latvia to find witnesses who had left Britain.

One of those officers, DC Chris Yates of Southampton Central Station, said: «It's a tragic set of circumstances fuelled by drink. One's thoughts go out to the mother who has lost her son.»

Sondors has already served 11 months on remand and is due to be released next May.

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