Aamir Siddiqi murder: Jason Richards and Ben Hope given 40 years each
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Ben Hope (left) and Jason Richards were convicted after a four-and-a-half month trial
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Two "staggeringly incompetent" hitmen must serve a minimum of 40 years each in jail for stabbing to death an innocent student after they targeted the wrong house.
Aamir Siddiqi, 17, was attacked at his Cardiff home by Jason Richards, 38, and Ben Hope, 39, in April 2010.
The pair were paid £1,000 each to kill a different man on a nearby street.
Sentencing them to life for murder at Swansea Crown Court, the judge said few would shed a tear if they died in jail.
The pair were found guilty of Aamir's murder and the attempted murder of his parents last Friday, 1 February, after a four-and-a-half month trial.
If you die in jail, few will shed a tear and many will say it will be more than deserved” - Mr Justice Royce Judge
The Siddiqi family said in a statement that they believed the sentences were "appropriate".
The judge, Mr Justice Royce, said he had no choice but to "significantly increase" the minimum term of 30 years the prosecution had asked for.
"He (Aamir) was awaiting the arrival of his Koran teacher when he rushed past his parents to open the door," he said.
"You two (Hope and Richards) came in, wearing balaclavas and making a terrible wailing sound.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2013/02/1001.jpg Aamir Siddiqi was stabbed in the hallway of his family home in Roath
"Your attack on him was brutal, savage, callous and cruel."
He said Aamir was "hacked" to death in front of his parents who were fortunate not to have been killed too as they fought in vain to save him.
"If you die in jail, few will shed a tear and many will say it will be more than deserved," the judge told Hope and Richards.
The judge went on to say the statements from the Siddiqi family were the most poignant he had come across.
The judge described Aamir as a "bright, gentle and courteous boy who was much loved by his family".
Our brother won't return to us but this will go some way to achieving peace for all of us” - Siddiqi family statement
"He had secured a place to study law at Cardiff and his future was brimming with promise," he said.
After sentencing, Umbareen Siddiqi, Aamir's sister, said: "On behalf of the family, we're delighted. We feel this sentence is appropriate
