Distraught Brenda Martin has vowed to fight for justice after seeing the sentences reduced for the three youths who murdered her son Brent.
The vulnerable 23-year-old was beaten in a savage and prolonged attack in August last year. He died three days later.
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William Hughes, 22, Marcus Miller, 17, and Stephen Bonallie, 18, all received life terms at Newcastle Crown Court in February this year.
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But despite the nation's top judge likening their attack on Brent to "a pack of hounds of a fox," the Court of Appeal yesterday trimmed three years off each of their sentence tariffs.
Mr Justice Goldring cut Miller's minimum term from 15 to 13 years, Hughes' from 22 to 19 years, and Bonallie's from 18 to 15 years.
Brent's mum Brenda, 63, of Watford Close, Witherwack, said the decision had devastated her family.
She said: "I feel like Brent did – like I'm in a ball getting kicked about.
"I never dreamt in a million years they would get less. I really hoped they would get more – it's heartbreaking.
"It's not much time to them but it's a life time to me and my family. We've just been devastated.
"They'll still be young men in their 20s and 30s when they get out," she said. "They'll go on to have children themselves. I wouldn't wish what happened to my Brent on anybody. But you never know what's round the corner, I didn't.
"I will pull myself together . There's no way on this earth will I stop my march for life to mean life. I owe it to my Brent to keep on going."
Brent's twin-sister Danielle, 24, added: "The judge has set the wrong example – he's sent the message out that you can go round killing people and get of lightly.
"It makes me feel ashamed to call myself British.
"This has had a massive impact on our lives. Just when you think things can't get any worse, this happens.
"We never in a million years dreamed they would have their sentences cut. But we were informed the decision to cut their sentences was made because Brent's killers didn't intend to kill him. That is rubbish.
"Brent pleaded for his life but they ignored his cries and beat him to death.
"The Government needs to open its eyes and do something about all this violence.
"There needs to be some kind of deterrent - life should mean life. The legal system, as it is, is all wrong."The full article contains 449 words and appears in Sunderland Echo newspaper.
