“JUSTICE has not been done.”

That was the reaction of the best friend of Nicholas Ormerod as his killer was given eight years in prison for manslaughter.

After 16 hours of deliberations, a jury of seven men and five women at Winchester Crown Court yesterday gave a majority verdict clearing 50-year-old Mark Haylock of murdering Mr Ormerod in Boscombe last April, but found him guilty of manslaughter due to a loss of self control.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Gary Dunford, 29, who had known Mr Ormerod, also 29, of Cranleigh Road, Southbourne, since the age of four, said: “Justice has not been done – eight years is no reflection of taking a man’s life.

“He will be out in three years.

“He’s (Mr Ormerod) missed and the effect this has had. It has touched so many people’s lives.

“We have a memorial for Nic every year. I would like to thank the police for the work they’ve done and all the support of his friends.” Haylock, of no fixed address, gave little reaction as the verdict was read out, but both that and the sentence were met with gasps and tears from friends and family in the public gallery.

During the trial, the court heard that Haylock admitted stabbing Mr Ormerod twice in a flat at Sea Road, but claimed he acted in self defence after an altercation broke out.

Handing down the sentence, His Honour Judge Guy Boney QC said Haylock and those with him had been drinking to excess, although Mr Ormerod only had around twice the drink-drive limit in his system.

He said: “Excessive consumption of drink lay at the root of this tragedy. It was against that background that, although I accept there was no long premeditation behind this, you exploded.

“It was a dreadful thing that you did to a man that was completely taken by surprise and unable to defend himself when you stabbed him twice in quick succession,” said Judge Boney.

He added: “He was completely helpless and at your mercy.”