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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| 'Problems persist' at murder site | 'Problems persist' at murder site |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police patrols have been increased at the shops near the fatal attack site Pair guilty of shop trip murder | Police patrols have been increased at the shops near the fatal attack site Pair guilty of shop trip murder |
| An area where a father was brutally murdered on a trip to the shops has become notorious for anti-social behaviour, residents have said. | An area where a father was brutally murdered on a trip to the shops has become notorious for anti-social behaviour, residents have said. |
| Michael Eccles, 43, was punched, kicked and stamped upon by Carl Keatley, 20, and 16-year-old Jordan Carroll, both from Lichfield in Staffordshire. | Michael Eccles, 43, was punched, kicked and stamped upon by Carl Keatley, 20, and 16-year-old Jordan Carroll, both from Lichfield in Staffordshire. |
| He was attacked after buying wine and milk in his local Costcutter store in the Dimbles area of Lichfield on 25 January. | He was attacked after buying wine and milk in his local Costcutter store in the Dimbles area of Lichfield on 25 January. |
| Mr Eccles, who had three children of his own and two step-children, suffered grievous injuries, including brain damage, in the attack yards from his home, Birmingham Crown Court was told. | Mr Eccles, who had three children of his own and two step-children, suffered grievous injuries, including brain damage, in the attack yards from his home, Birmingham Crown Court was told. |
| He died in hospital the day after the attack. | He died in hospital the day after the attack. |
| Keatley and Carroll, who had spent the day drinking alcohol in a Lichfield park, had denied the attack but were found guilty after a two-week trial. | Keatley and Carroll, who had spent the day drinking alcohol in a Lichfield park, had denied the attack but were found guilty after a two-week trial. |
| 'More attacks' | 'More attacks' |
| Residents have said the parade of shops where Mr Eccles had been early on that Sunday evening has become a well-known meeting place for youths, with some out of control after drinking alcohol. | Residents have said the parade of shops where Mr Eccles had been early on that Sunday evening has become a well-known meeting place for youths, with some out of control after drinking alcohol. |
| Staffordshire Police have stepped up patrols and surveillance in the area and worked with other groups to tackle anti-social behaviour. | Staffordshire Police have stepped up patrols and surveillance in the area and worked with other groups to tackle anti-social behaviour. |
| Michael Eccles had three children and two step-children | Michael Eccles had three children and two step-children |
| Ch Supt Mick Harrison said there had been more work in the area since Mr Eccles's murder, but admitted anti-social behaviour was still a problem. | |
| He said: "Here's a man who's gone out to the shops on a Sunday evening and hasn't come home. | He said: "Here's a man who's gone out to the shops on a Sunday evening and hasn't come home. |
| "I think what we do need to do is to tackle the issues surrounding anti-social behaviour which are an ongoing problem in the north Lichfield area." | |
| Some residents say anti-social behaviour has persisted in the area, with attacks also reported. | Some residents say anti-social behaviour has persisted in the area, with attacks also reported. |
| Gary Lewis, from the Dimbles area, said his young daughter was frightened of going near the shops, after two of his family members suffered attacks by youths last month. | Gary Lewis, from the Dimbles area, said his young daughter was frightened of going near the shops, after two of his family members suffered attacks by youths last month. |
| "The other day they came down the street, starting (trouble). They beat my brother-in-law up and put him in hospital. | "The other day they came down the street, starting (trouble). They beat my brother-in-law up and put him in hospital. |
| "He had to have an operation on his eye." | "He had to have an operation on his eye." |
| 'Work tirelessly' | 'Work tirelessly' |
| He added that his mother-in-law had had her car damaged in a separate incident. | He added that his mother-in-law had had her car damaged in a separate incident. |
| In the case of Mr Eccles, prosecutors said that Keatley, and the youth, who was 15 at the time of the murder, had "decided to attack and did attack". | In the case of Mr Eccles, prosecutors said that Keatley, and the youth, who was 15 at the time of the murder, had "decided to attack and did attack". |
| They were involved in an exchange with Mr Eccles as he left the shop before attacking him. | They were involved in an exchange with Mr Eccles as he left the shop before attacking him. |
| Gary Lewis said his young daughter was scared to go near the shops | Gary Lewis said his young daughter was scared to go near the shops |
| Colleagues at the steel factory where he worked for more than 20 years visited him in hospital. | Colleagues at the steel factory where he worked for more than 20 years visited him in hospital. |
| One described seeing his terrible injures as he lay in intensive care as "the most horrific sight I've ever seen in my life". | |
| Mr Eccles's family said he had a "heart of gold". | |
| He had been a passionate Liverpool fan and also coached several local football teams. | |
| An estimated 700 people attended his funeral at Lichfield Cathedral in February. | An estimated 700 people attended his funeral at Lichfield Cathedral in February. |
| Canon Wealands Bell told mourners his death "was one of the shocking and traumatising events that shook not just his family and friends but the whole city of Lichfield". | Canon Wealands Bell told mourners his death "was one of the shocking and traumatising events that shook not just his family and friends but the whole city of Lichfield". |
| Mr Harrison said the force would continue to work hard to tackle problems in the area where he was killed. | Mr Harrison said the force would continue to work hard to tackle problems in the area where he was killed. |
| "We have worked extremely hard with our partners and will continue to work tirelessly to tackle the issues in that locality," he added. | "We have worked extremely hard with our partners and will continue to work tirelessly to tackle the issues in that locality," he added. |
| CCTV planned | CCTV planned |
| Lichfield District Council said the guilty verdicts were a positive result for Mr Eccles's family and the community. | |
| Councillor Helen Fisher, cabinet member for community, said: "We hope it will help towards the healing process for everyone touched by the death of Mr Eccles." | Councillor Helen Fisher, cabinet member for community, said: "We hope it will help towards the healing process for everyone touched by the death of Mr Eccles." |
| She said that following his death the council had brought forward some of its plans for the area, including improving security. | She said that following his death the council had brought forward some of its plans for the area, including improving security. |
| "We're also working with partners to improve facilities in the shopping area, including putting in CCTV later this summer," she said. | "We're also working with partners to improve facilities in the shopping area, including putting in CCTV later this summer," she said. |
| Ms Fisher added some residents were "saddened" by the way the area was portrayed in the national media following Mr Eccles's attack. | |
| "We have a long history of working in partnership with people living in north Lichfield, and whilst they tell us there are some issues that need to be addressed, they also tell us they like living here and are proud to be part of their local community," she said. | "We have a long history of working in partnership with people living in north Lichfield, and whilst they tell us there are some issues that need to be addressed, they also tell us they like living here and are proud to be part of their local community," she said. |