Two Larne men were each jailed for five years yesterday for their part in the killing of Mr Stuart Hunter (24) on August 1st, 1997.
Belfast Crown Court judge Lord Justice Campbell said it appeared they were under the influence of the actual killer, whom he described as "a particularly evil man".
David Joseph Campbell (21), and John Maloney (20) were originally charged with murder, but the charge was reduced to manslaughter when they pleaded guilty to this charge last month.
Mr Hunter was bludgeoned to death with an axe outside his home at Ballymullock Road, Larne, by a third man, who cannot be named for legal reasons and who was also charged with the murder, but released for lack of evidence.
The court heard earlier that Mr Hunter had been murdered because three months earlier he had reported an assault to the police.