TWO mothers whose sons were both killed in Comet country are taking part in a demonstration on Monday to demand tougher jail sentences for criminals. Last week, Sam Faulkner marked the two-year anniversary of her 20-year-old son s death. Christopher Faulk

TWO mothers whose sons were both killed in Comet country are taking part in a demonstration on Monday to demand tougher jail sentences for criminals.

Last week, Sam Faulkner marked the two-year anniversary of her 20-year-old son's death.

Christopher Faulkner, of Brook Drive in Stevenage, died from a single stab wound to the chest in King George V Playing Fields on April 21, 2008.

Kyle Quinlan-Currie, then 15, of Longcroft Road in Stevenage, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison.

The jury heard how Mr Faulkner was a low-level drug dealer, and was knifed when Quinlan-Currie attempted to steal cannabis during what Mr Faulkner believed to be a routine transaction.

Christopher Owen, 19 and from Stevenage, died in a street attack just off Broadwater Crescent on November 9, 2007.

He was knocked to the ground by Steven Bangert, also 19, in a row over a telephone number.

St Albans Crown Court heard how his head was kicked like a football when he refused to give the number of the man who had had sex with Bangert's older sister.

Bangert, of Blenheim Way in Stevenage, denied murder but admitted manslaughter and was jailed for four years and nine months.

Mr Owen's mother, Sam, will join Mrs Faulkner in the Families Fighting for Justice march on Monday, which will start at Victoria Embankment and finish at Westminster.

They both feel let down by the British justice system, and feel current prison sentences do not provide enough of a deterrent.

"The whole idea is to get the Government to sit up and pay attention," said 44-year-old Ms Owen.

"Offenders need to be given proper sentences - make them pay for what they have done.

"The boy who killed my son is going to be out this August, but he should be spending the rest of his life behind bars. It should be life for a life.

"He's still got the rest of his life ahead of him. He can get married and have children. I'm not going to see my son have children. What have I got? I have a plot down at Harwood Park Crematorium."

Ms Owen said it is too late for herself and Mrs Faulkner to get justice for their sons, but said: "If we can get things changed, it will be better for other people."

For more information about the Families Fighting for Justice march, visit www.familiesfightingforjustice.com