THE men who murdered Newport's Lemy Bullock were jailed for a total of 60 years today.

Mohammed 'Mo' Nasser, Aaron Kent and Martyn Bruce were given life sentences for the murder of the popular 36-year-old Pill father of three. At Cardiff crown court, 'Mo' Nasser, the gang's "dominant figure", was told he would have to serve at least 24 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

There were loud cheers and applause from the packed public gallery in response.

Kent, called by the judge, 'Mo' Nasser's "loyal and willing lieutenant", will have to serve at least 20 years. Bruce, described as a "hanger-on" eager to impress his friend 'Mo' Nasser, will have to serve 16 years before being considered for parole.

The gang were high after drinking vodka and lager and smoking cannabis when they murdered Lemy Bullock using a Samurai sword.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge John Griffith Williams, QC, told the three they believed they could "do as you pleased in the Pill area confident people would not speak out against you.

"Nobody had a bad word to say about Lemy Bullock during this trial. He was prepared to stand up to you."

Kent, 24, of Livale Court, Bettws, Newport, pleaded guilty to murdering him in one of his local pubs, Harvey's in Pill, on March 15, 2005. He admitted stabbing him twice in the stomach with the sword.

'Mo' Nasser, 44, of Kirby Lane, and Bruce, 39, of l from front page Courtybella Gardens, both Pill, were convicted of murdering Mr Bullock by a jury after a five-week trial at Cardiff crown court. Two men were cleared during the trial. 'Mo' Nasser's brother, Abdul 'Sammy' Nasser, 39, of Bassaleg Road, Newport, was acquitted of murder after being accused of supplying the gang with the murder weapon. Mohammed 'Ziggy' Abbes, 50, of Cardiff Road, Newport, was cleared of assisting offenders after being accused of harbouring the gang at his former flat in Pill's Ruperra Street.

Patrick Harrington, QC, mitigating for Kent, said his client had committed a "chillingly" similar attack to the killing of Mr Bullock three years earlier. The court heard Kent served four years after pleading guilty to wounding a man with intent after stabbing him in the chest at the Arcade pub in Newport.

But, Mr Harrington, added Kent had expressed remorse for the murder and pleaded guilty at the very first opportunity. He added Kent had experienced a "tragic upbringing" and had lost both his parents. John Jenkins, QC, mitigating for 'Mo' Nasser, said his client's intention on the night of Mr Bullock's death had been to cause him serious bodily harm rather than any intent to kill him.

David Aubrey, QC, mitigating for Bruce said his client expressed genuine remorse for the murder and recognised the "profound impact" the killing had on Mr Bullock's family.