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Three guilty of sadistic killing | Three guilty of sadistic killing |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Three people have been found guilty of killing a man in a sexually-motivated and sadistic attack in Wigan. | Three people have been found guilty of killing a man in a sexually-motivated and sadistic attack in Wigan. |
Shaun Fitton, also known as Shaun Anthony Hall, suffered internal injuries caused by the handle of a mop, Liverpool Crown Court heard. | |
He was attacked by Owen Skeate, 23, Shaun Beatty, 20, and Rebecca Birt, 22, after drunkenly asking Birt, Beatty's girlfriend, for sex. | |
A jury convicted Skeate and Beatty of murder, and Birt of manslaughter. | |
The three, who are from Wigan, will be sentenced on 9 April. | The three, who are from Wigan, will be sentenced on 9 April. |
A fourth person, Michael Gerrard, 22, of Rivington Street, Atherton, was cleared of murder and released. | A fourth person, Michael Gerrard, 22, of Rivington Street, Atherton, was cleared of murder and released. |
Beaten and stripped | Beaten and stripped |
The trial heard how the attack began after 26-year-old Mr Fitton's sexual advances towards Birt at her home in Tyldesley, Wigan, in August 2009. | The trial heard how the attack began after 26-year-old Mr Fitton's sexual advances towards Birt at her home in Tyldesley, Wigan, in August 2009. |
Mr Fitton was beaten, stripped naked and hauled around in a wheelie bin. | Mr Fitton was beaten, stripped naked and hauled around in a wheelie bin. |
Shaun Fitton died from multiple organ failure | Shaun Fitton died from multiple organ failure |
The jury was shown a home video recording of what was described as the "horrific" attack with a mop handle. | The jury was shown a home video recording of what was described as the "horrific" attack with a mop handle. |
Voices of others could be heard in the background laughing and shouting words of encouragement. | Voices of others could be heard in the background laughing and shouting words of encouragement. |
Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, told jurors: "This was, we suggest, a sexually motivated and sadistic killing." | Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, told jurors: "This was, we suggest, a sexually motivated and sadistic killing." |
Officers, who were alerted by neighbours, found the victim lying unconscious in the back yard of Birt's house. | Officers, who were alerted by neighbours, found the victim lying unconscious in the back yard of Birt's house. |
He died in hospital later from massive internal injuries and head injuries sustained in the attack, the court heard. | He died in hospital later from massive internal injuries and head injuries sustained in the attack, the court heard. |
All four defendants, who are from the Wigan area, had denied murder. | All four defendants, who are from the Wigan area, had denied murder. |