Two WA teens win appeal over manslaughter

Two teenagers locked up for unlawfully killing a 28-year-old man in Western Australia have won an appeal against their convictions and have had their sentences reduced.

Tauri Litchfield died in Mandurah, south of Perth, in March 2013 after a group of teenage boys assaulted and chased him until he tripped over a wall and hit his head.

Two of the boys, known only as DVH and TB, appealed against the verdict and on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal ruled they should have been convicted of the lesser charge of assault causing death.

TB, who was aged 14 at the time of the crime, had his sentence reduced from four-and-a-half years to two years behind bars.

DVH, then aged 15, had his sentenced cut from five-and-a-half years to two years and eight months behind bars, with the judges taking into account the fact that he had been the instigator.

Before the judgment was delivered, TB had already served his time and had been freed under a supervised release order, while DVH had been released on bail pending the determination of his appeal.

Two other teenagers were also convicted of manslaughter after a trial and were sentenced to four-and-a-half years in detention, while a fifth boy was acquitted of any crime against Mr Litchfield and a charge against a sixth boy was dropped during the trial.