Lawyers for Jordan Bodinnar claimed he had made "exceptional progress" since the death of Michael McGuigan in 2009A man who gave his brother the knife he used in a brutal Hillfields murder has had his hopes of an early release from prison dashed.
Jordan Bodinnar, now 24, was just 16 when he backed up his 20-year-old sibling, William, in a savage attack on Michael McGuigan in May 2009.
He was jailed for ten years after being found guilty of murder and recently lawyers had said he should be released because he had made “exceptional progress” behind bars.
But the bid was turned down today, with Mrs Justice May saying that Bodinnar would have to serve every day of his punishment.
William Bodinnar had threatened to "knife" a prostitute who was protected by Mr McGuigan earlier on the day of the murder.
Mr McGuigan stepped in and the pair argued, leaving Bodinnar intent on revenge.
The pair tracked Mr McGuigan down and the older brother stabbed him repeatedly.
Jordan Bodinnar’s part in the killing was in giving his brother a knife and then fending off one of Mr McGuigan’s friends with a golf club when he came to help.
Mrs Justice May said that although he had made progress behind bars, he done no more than would be expected of a prisoner.
“All the reports I have read, whilst being uniformly positive about his progress so far, record that there is still further work to be done,” she said.
“These reports, written as they are by those who know him best and who are best-placed to provide objective assessments of his progress, agree that his progress does not exceed that which is to be expected.
“In those circumstances, and notwithstanding the very encouraging progress which he has made to date, I am not satisfied that he currently meets the criteria for a reduction in his minimum term.”
The decision means he will have to serve every day of the term before being eligible to apply for release.
He will remain behind bars until at least May 2019.
William Bodinnar, who was jailed for at least 17 years for the murder, was not involved in today’s case before Mrs Justice May.