A CLOSE friend of murdered Bournemouth University student Luke Campbell has called for his killers to face the death penalty.

Andrea Young, 21, who knew Luke from his home town of Burton in Staffordshire, said the trio convicted of murder in Winchester on Tuesday “deserved to die” like he had.

Luke, 20, had been an “inspiration” to others, said Miss Young, and the life sentences handed to Larbi Mohamed, Delaine Brown and Saeed Alkadir could not bring him back.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Miss Young said: “When you take somebody’s life, you don’t deserve to be let out in 20 years and follow your dreams.

“They don’t deserve to be here. They deserve to die like Luke did.

“These boys have taken away a man in the making. They will always be hated by us.”

Miss Young, who had known Luke for three years before he moved south to start university, said people had been “anxious and nervous” over the outcome of the trial.

Mohamed and Alkadir were told they would serve at least 17 years in prison and Brown 18 when Mr Justice Field handed down their sentences at Winchester Crown Court.

But she said there would “never be true justice” for the brutal actions of the killers.

Luke was remembered in Burton as a hugely talented hip-hop artist and musician.

“He was absolutely amazing,” said Miss Young.

“The things he used to say would just roll off his tongue. He spoke the truth.

“Now his talent will not be realised.”

Another of Luke’s friends, Martin Parker, 22, who had known him for four years, said: “Luke’s not coming back but it’s good to know that the guys are behind bars and being punished.”

William Paul, who had known Luke for nearly five years, also described Luke as “inspirational” and said he had made “an impact on many people’s lives”.