Police have released CCTV footage of two murderers shaking hands shortly after killing a young soldier in Redruth in September last year.

At Truro Crown Court on Wednesday, the two men were handed life sentences after being convicted of the murder of David Curnow.

Mr Curnow, a 20-year-old local man and member of the armed forces, was attacked and fatally injured by Liam Laing and Connor Hammond in Chapel Street, Redruth, Cornwall, in the early hours of Sunday 20 September 2015.

The incident was captured on CCTV and this evidence became a central element of the investigation.

The CCTV footage shows Laing (yellow arrow) and Hammond (green arrow) moments before the first attack on David Curnow (blue arrow). The pink arrow relates to a witness.

The footage also shows Laing and Hammond’s handshake afterwards, and Laing acting out a stamping motion to his friends, after the final attack.

Mr Curnow suffered serious head injuries and died at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth the following day.

Laing, 21, of Brookside, Chacewater, Truro, pleaded guilty to David’s murder prior to the trial, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 13.5 years

Hammond, also 21, of Trenoweth Estate, North Country, Redruth, pleaded not guilty to murder and went on trial on Tuesday 12 April, where the jury found him guilty of murder, and he wassentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of  16 years.

Detective Inspector Ben Beckerleg of the Major Crime Investigation Team said: “Offences like this are exceedingly rare in this area. This was not a case of a fight between young men but rather an unprovoked and cowardly attack by the two defendants upon the victim David Curnow.

“Both defendants carried out a violent, repeated assault that included kicking and punching David while he lay prone on the floor.

“David’s family and friends have been extremely dignified throughout the investigation and the police wish to express their upmost condolences for the tragic loss of David.”