A killer jailed after a night of carnage in which he attacked customers in a Bradford curry restaurant and committed murder with a pool cue can seek his freedom in three years after a top judge's ruling.

Matthew Mitchell's victim was promising student Tahir Ali - who worked as a waiter at The Khyber, The Green, Idle, at which Mitchell and others had earlier caused mayhem when they attacked two customers.

Mr Ali, 20, died from injuries sustained in a street clash, which occurred after he and fellow staff members pursued Mitchell, now aged 36, and his friends following the restaurant fracas.

During the ensuing melee, Mr Ali was particularly "targeted". His head was kicked and stamped on and he was also battered with a pool cue wielded by Mitchell.

"He sustained brain damage which ultimately led to his death," said Mr Justice Butterfield, who was reviewing Mitchell's case yesterday at London's Royal Courts of Justice.

Although others were involved in the street violence, which was sparked after the "Asian group" attacked Mitchell's friend, Mitchell was clearly the "principal aggressor".

There was evidence he had caused most of the uproar in the restaurant, and "had been enraged even before any provocation was offered in the form of the attack on his friend".

Mitchell, 35, was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court in July 1997 after he was convicted of Mr Ali's murder.

Mr Justice Butterfield yesterday ruled he must serve a minimum 14-year jail "tariff". But after time spent on remand is taken into account that means he can seek parole in April 2010.

The judge said Mitchell had made only average progress while in prison, while he had only "very recently" acknowledged his responsibility for Mr Ali's death.

Even once Mitchell has completed his 14-year tariff, he will still only be freed if he can persuade the Parole Board he poses no serious public danger.

When, and if, freed he will remain on perpetual "life licence", subject to prison recall if he puts a foot wrong.

Mr Ali had been preparing to study accountancy at Manchester University and had been due to be married in September of the year he died.