minutes of his time.' Scroll down to see the emotional statements outside court Accusations: Joe Hallett (left) and Paul Davies were friends with the two murdered men - today they said Mr Obama's failure to respond to three letters sent to the White House was because there was no 'political value' Best buddies: James Cooper (left) and James Kouzaris (right) became friends after meeting at university Friends of the victims: Joe Hallett (left) and Paul Davies (right) both spoke at the sentencing, directly in front Tyson The rebuke follows Mr Obama's personal intervention into the shooting in Florida of a young black teenager by a white neighbourhood watch captain. More... Mr Obama entered the controversy last week by saying if he had a son he would have looked like 17-year-old victim Trayvon Martin. The Copper and Kouzaris families released a statement, saying that they too have been given 'a life sentence when our sons were so brutally and needlessly taken from us.' 'Ours is a life sentence, with no chance of parole from a broken heart, and a shattered soul,' the statement continued. The Sarasota, Florida jury of eight women and four men only deliberated for two hours before coming to the guilty sentence for Tyson. After a week-long case, he was charged with first degree murder for both of the men. Before sentencing Tyson, the judge allowed friends of the two victims to speak directly to the killer. The final picture: James Kouzaris photographed earlier on in the night