THE Bolton girlfriend of paratrooper Benjamin Kamanalagi, who was beaten to death, has been joined by local MPs in her fight to appeal against the sentences on his killers.

Brian Iddon (Bolton South East) and Terry Lewis (Worsley) met Home Secretary Jack Straw after being asked for help by Joanne Done.

She was the partner of the soldier and is now raising baby Cory who was born after her father was beaten to death outside his friend's home in Weaste, Salford, in September 1999. The two men responsible were given 5- year sentences for manslaughter.

Mr Kamanalagi was planning to return to the armed forces to help support his new family.

Joanne, who lives in Dr Iddon's constituency, asked the MP to hand over a 1,000-name petition which requests the Home Secretary and the Crown Prosecution Service to lodge an appeal against the sentences.

Mr Straw promised to pass the petition to the Attorney General Lord Williams of Mostyn QC.

Dr Iddon said: "This was a particularly vicious attack with strong racist overtones and, in view of the facts of this case as presented to me by the family, I am more than happy to support their petition for an appeal. I have written to the Attorney General to draw this case to his attention and to ask him to arrange for an appeal to be launched by the Crown Prosecution Service."