A YOUNG man who killed a 16-year-old boy on a Kent playing field has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

Lee Cowie, 19, was sent to a young offenders' institute after admitting the manslaughter of Michael Chapman, who lived in Sheppey Way, Bobbing, near Sittingbourne.

He had previously been found not guilty of a murder by a jury in April.

Cowie, of Beechwood Avenue, Sittingbourne, kicked and punched Michael to death on Gore Court playing field in the town on June 16, 2006.

In sentencing Cowie at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Andrew Patience, QC, called it "a cowardly attack" for which there was "no possible justification".

Det Ch Insp Martin Harris, who led the police investigation, said: "Michael's death serves as a reminder to people who get involved in fights how they can quickly escalate out of control, with fatal consequences."

* For the full story, court report and an interview with Michael's family, see the Sittingbourne edition of this Friday's Kent Messenger.