Bobby and Gary Ternent murdered their friend Jon Avers (Credit: Metropolitan Police)
Gary Ternent and his son Bobby attacked and repeatedly ran over John Avers, 47, in an Iceland car park in September 2020.
Both men, who are from Movers Lane, Barking, were found guilty of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.
They were sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 19 April. Bobby, 32, will serve a minimum of 25 years and Gary, 59, will serve a minimum of 23 years
John Avers was a successful businessman (Credit: MPS)
The court heard how the Ternents first arranged to meet Mr Avers in Wood Lane, Dagenham, at around 11.30pm on 13 September 2020.
They drove him to a supermarket car park in Whalebone Lane South where a fight broke out.
Bobby pulled John away from the car and onto the ground. He then held John to the floor while Gary attempted to run him over but for an unknown reason Gary could not move the vehicle.
The father and son switched places while John remained on the ground. He was already too injured to move at this point.
Bobby then ran John over twice before Gary got back in the car. Instead of fleeing the scene, they ran John over a third and fourth time.
They then left John dead or dying in the dark, quiet car park and drove home where they tried to dispose of their clothing.
Bobby also drove the car a short way down the road before setting fire to it and abandoning it.
The vehicle used to kill John Avers (Credit: MPS)
Officers were called to the scene of the murder after receiving 999 calls from distressed residents who had heard John’s screams.
They found John in a pool of his own blood and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination found he suffered multiple fractures to his skull, sternum, pelvis and his left-thigh bone. Around 22 of his 24 ribs were fractured and resulted in six penetrating wounds to his lungs. He also had injuries to his heart and liver.
Bobby and Graham were arrested a few days later.
In a statement read to the court, John’s family said: “When we got the knock on the door our lives changed forever. The pain we felt being told that John had died and the way he died was heart breaking.
“We think and talk about John every day. He was a good dad and I know he loved his girls unconditionally. They have taken something from them that can never be replaced, their dad. There will be so many mile stones and achievements that he will miss from their lives but he will always be held close in our hearts and our memories.
“Our hearts are broken and I’m not sure we will ever feel the same again. The pain in our hearts is something we can’t describe. People say time is great healer, I hope this is true. John was loved by so many people, still is and always will be.”
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Tags: Dagenham, Barking, Murder, Barking and Dagenham, John Avers, Bobby Ternent, Gary Ternent
