Killer's sentence cut after family mercy

An actor's son serving life for murder had his sentence reduced today because of the forgiveness of his victim's family and the progress he has made while in prison.

Eyjolfur Andrews, 24, the son of actor Barry Andrews who has appeared in The Bill, shot and killed barrister's clerk Amaranath Bandaratilleka, 32, during a robbery at a newsagents in Hammersmith.

Andrews opened fire with his sawn-off shotgun when Mr Bandaratilleka, who was in the shop at the time of the hold-up, handed over only 26p. Andrews, of Hammersmith, who was 16 at the time of the robbery, was convicted in 1993. His minimum sentence before becoming eligible for parole was set at 12 years by the Home Secretary. In 1999 it was cut to 11 years.

Today in the High Court, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, ordered a further reduction to nine years because of his " exemplary" progress in prison. He could be free next year.

Lord Woolf said the dead man's closest relative, a cousin, had visited Andrews in prison and believed that Andrews now realised the enormity of what he had done. The cousin said that neither he nor his family bore animosity towards Andrews, and wrote: "We unreservedly forgive him and hope it will not be too long before he is released to his family."

Lord Woolf said Andrews had been taking drugs since he was 12 and by 15 was on heroin and crack cocaine. But once in prison he rapidly tackled his problems.

He has been praised for counselling young people identified as being at risk of crime or drug misuse. He has also received strong support from his family and long-term girlfriend. Lord Woolf said: "In so far as anyone can make amends for a crime which is so serious, Andrews appears to have done this."