Soccer deaths: 5 jailed in Turkey

Violence also marred the Arsenal-Galatasaray UEFA Cup final

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- A Turkish man has been jailed by an Istanbul court for 15 years after finding him guilty of stabbing to death two English soccer fans two years ago.

Four others were each sentenced to three months and 22 days for involvement in fighting that resulted in the deaths.

Leeds United fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus were stabbed to death during street brawls ahead of an April 2000 UEFA Cup match against Galatasaray in Istanbul.

The incident led to 20 Turks being charged with offences ranging from murder to assault.

Ali Umit Demir was sentenced to seven years and six months for the murder of Loftus and a further seven years six months for the murder of Kevin Speight, Reuters news agency reported.

Some Turkish convicts serve out as little as two-fifths of their sentences after reductions for good behaviour and other factors.

Turkish authorities have held Demir in jail for two years and lawyers said they were confident of a reduction in his sentence.

The panel was unanimous that Demir murdered Speight but voted 2-1 in favour of charges he murdered Loftus.

Demir has a week in which to launch an appeal. He told reporters he was encouraged by the fact that the panel of three judges had not been unanimous in handing down a conviction for one of the murders.

The shadow of the deaths has hung over matches between English and Turkish clubs.

Galatasaray went on to win the UEFA Cup in 2000 after winning the Leeds clash and going on to beat another English club, Arsenal, in the final.

Three fans were stabbed ahead of the final played in Copenhagen, Denmark.