Leeds 'body in bin' murder: Three men jailed for life
Three men who murdered a man before dumping his body in a bin and setting it alight have been jailed.
Michael Ayres's body was found in Hyde Park Terrace, near St Augustine's Church, in Leeds on 16 January.
Stuart Jarvis, 50, Andrew Jenkins, 38, and Stewart Malnieks, 61, all from Leeds, were sentenced to life in prison at the city's crown court.
Police said the trio treated My Ayres's body "appallingly in a desperate attempt to cover their tracks".
My Ayres's sister Margaret Dawson paid tribute to a "warm, kind and intelligent man who will be sorely missed by his family and friends".
"In his later years Michael had his problems, but throughout this he was always happy, generous and amiable. He certainly did not ask for or deserve what happened to him."
The gang robbed the 60-year-old "for their own selfish gains" before killing him on the night of 15 January, she said.
"The verdict is a right and just one and the sentence reflects the heinous nature of this crime."
Ms Dawson said more than 300 people had attended his funeral in April.
Det Sup Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "The murder of Michael Ayres was a completely unnecessary act that has left his family understandably devastated.
"Michael was a good man who had fallen on hard times in later life which tragically brought him into contact with the men who killed him."
Jenkins, of Heights West, and Malnieks, of Midland Road, were ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years.
Jarvis, also of Heights West, must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for release.
All three denied murdering the 60-year-old, who was from Headingley, but they were found guilty following a trial.
Jarvis and Malnieks were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Jenkins had previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.