A STUDENT has told of his “closure” over the killing of his father.

Colin Gale was convicted of the manslaughter of Mark Manning and jailed for 15 years and eight months.

He appealed against the sentence and Mark’s son Kane Manning was at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for the hearing.

Gale received a four-month reduction – but Kane said it was no victory at all.

Speaking to The Argus afterwards, Kane said: “They have basically dismissed the appeal.

“I totally see it as a loss on his part.”

Met College student Kane, 20, from Portslade, said he was nervous when entering the “massive” court room last Thursday.

But he was satisfied with the result.

He said: “I didn’t know what was going to happen or whether he would show up face to face.

“I didn’t want to see his face. He was on a big screen on a video link.

“I am really happy with the result because he can’t ask for an appeal again.

“I see it as a bit of closure. He did not have luck this time round.”

Gale, from Worthing, was convicted of manslaughter through loss of control following a trial last year for killing 54-year-old bomb disposal expert Mark Manning and burying his body in the countryside. Although jurors cleared Gale of murder, he admitted to preventing the lawful burial of Mr Manning’s body.

The body was found by police in May 2016 at a woodland site in Slaugham, two years after the father-of-two was first thought to be missing.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court revealed Mr Manning was killed over a debt of around £17,000 at the P&B Car Sales garage in Western Road, Lancing, which Gale owned.

Another man, Stewart Robertson, from Portslade, was enlisted to help Gale when Mr Manning’s body was buried.

He was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of preventing the lawful burial of a corpse.

When the pair were sentenced, they were told they would have to serve half the time in custody and half on licence.

Gale has now had his sentence reduced by four months.

Mr Manning had bought and sold cars to make a living and also worked for the Mines Advisory Group, a charity supported by Princess Diana, which removes landmines and other hazards in some of the world’s poorest countries.