Family tell court: “We have lost two sons”
A 34 YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for life for murdering his own brother following what a judge described as a “vicious, sustained and seriously out-of-proportion” attack.
Darren Steel, of Swansea, was sentenced today (Friday, Feb 13) at Swansea Crown Court before His Honour Huw Rees, who told him he may never be released from prison.
The court heard the fatal assault followed a dispute linked to drugs, with Steel unleashing a prolonged and repeated attack on his brother.
Passing sentence, Judge Rees said the violence went far beyond any reasonable response.
“This was not a short burst of violence,” he said.
“It was vicious, sustained and seriously out of proportion. The anger you displayed that day — uncontrolled anger — arose from your belief that someone had stolen your drugs.”
Lies to police
The judge said Steel attempted to evade responsibility immediately after the killing, giving officers a false name when arrested.
He later repeated a series of lies in custody, including making what the judge described as a “patently false” allegation involving his former partner.
“I’m sorry to tell you that your performance earlier was out of self-pity, not out of remorse,” Judge Rees told him.
“You have shown no genuine insight into what you have done.”
“Pure evil”
Family members delivered emotional victim impact statements describing the devastating consequences of the killing.
One relative told the court: “I have lost both of my sons, either in death or in prison.”
Susanne, the victim’s aunt, said the family had been living through “a constant nightmare”.
“Throughout both trials, Darren has not shown one glimpse of remorse for what he did to his brother,” she said. “He is vacant. He is pure evil.”
Zoe Steel, the victim’s daughter, said her father’s death had robbed her of future milestones.
“I didn’t just lose my father that day — I lost the man who was meant to walk me down the aisle,” she said.
“Darren has created a massive hole in this family that will never mend. Not once did he even say sorry.
“Dad, the day you died, a part of me died with you.”
Additional offences
The court also sentenced Steel for two further assaults connected to the same incident.
He received three years’ imprisonment for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Julian Samuel and 12 months for assaulting Dawn, his former partner. Those sentences will run concurrently.
Life sentence
For murder, Steel was handed the mandatory life sentence and must serve a minimum of 20 years before he can apply for parole.
Judge Rees warned that release is not guaranteed.
“You may never be released,” he said.
