Two "staggeringly incompetent" hitmen who stabbed an innocent schoolboy to death by mistake have been told they are likely to die behind bars after a judge handed each one a minimum term of 40 years.
Ben Hope, 39, and Jason Richards, 38, both from Cardiff, were each paid £1,000 in "blood money" to murder a middle-aged family man who owed money to a shady businessman.
Sketch of Richards (left) and Hope in the dock
But the "hit" went tragically wrong when the balaclava-clad killers, who were high on drugs, went to the wrong address in Roath, Cardiff, in April 2010 and murdered teenager Aamir Siddiqi by mistake.
The 17-year-old's frantic parents, Iqbal and Parveen, fought to save their son but were knifed in turn by the killers, who let out chilling howls.
Hope and Richards - who already had a deplorable criminal record ahead of the stabbing - both protested their innocence during their four-and-a-half month trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The execution of the bungled contract killing was described by the prosecution as an act of "staggering incompetence".
And a jury unanimously found them guilty of Aamir's murder as well as the attempted murder of his parents.
In sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said he had no choice but to "significantly increase" the minimum term of 30 years the prosecution had asked for.
He said: "Aamir Siddiqi was the youngest child and only son of Sheikh Iqbal and Parveen Ahmed.
"He was a bright, gentle and courteous boy who was much loved by his family.
"He had secured a place to study law at Cardiff and his future was brimming with promise.
"He was awaiting the arrival of his Koran teacher when he rushed past his parents to open the door.
"You two (Hope and Richards) came in, wearing balaclavas and making a terrible wailing sound.
"Your attack on him was brutal, savage, callous and cruel.
"You hacked him to death in front of his parents, who fought in vain to save Aamir.
"It was simply good fortune that they were not killed. It was your intention that they should die too.
"The aggravating features of this case mean the starting point should significantly increase.
"The starting point is 40 years.
"If you die in jail, few will shed a tear and many will say it will be more than deserved."