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| Shane Tunney murder trial: Two found guilty of 'savage' killing | Shane Tunney murder trial: Two found guilty of 'savage' killing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two men have been found guilty of a "savage" street murder. | Two men have been found guilty of a "savage" street murder. |
| Shane Tunney, 24, died after he was "kicked like a football" and punched by a gang on Norton High Street in Stockton as he went to buy pizza last June. | |
| Kearan Terry Davis and Kieran Harry Davis, both 18, had denied killing him. | Kearan Terry Davis and Kieran Harry Davis, both 18, had denied killing him. |
| Jake Douglas and Brandon Pitt, both 18, and three other teenagers who cannot be named were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. | Jake Douglas and Brandon Pitt, both 18, and three other teenagers who cannot be named were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. |
| In a statement Mr Tunney's family said he had "more of a life in his 24 years than many will within a lifetime". | |
| "He was one of the most kind-hearted, selfless people you could ever meet, he was a blessing within our lives and to anyone that knew him and he will never be replaced." | |
| The seven will be sentenced in June. | |
| They were also convicted of attacking Mr Tunney's friend Anthony Kirk, who was with him at the time. | |
| Teesside Crown Court heard the pair had been at a cash machine when they were pelted with waste food by a group on the roof of an adjoining Tesco store. | |
| Soon after, they were confronted by the group and attacked. | |
| One witness described Mr Tunney being "kicked - like they were kicking footballs at a goal" while Mr Kirk was beaten with a pole. | |
| The court heard Mr Tunney managed to escape but, having flagged down a passing taxi, changed his mind and went back to help his friend, only to be attacked again. | |
| He was left in a coma and died in hospital five weeks later. | |
| His partner, Vix Cooper, said: "Once the sedation had been taken off, I remember he looked at me and we made eye contact. | |
| "For the first time he lifted his arm up and he held my hand and I saw a tear come down his cheek." |