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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kevin Bennett killing: Three boys guilty of murder | Kevin Bennett killing: Three boys guilty of murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three teenage boys who kicked and punched a homeless man to death have been convicted of murder at Liverpool Crown Court. | Three teenage boys who kicked and punched a homeless man to death have been convicted of murder at Liverpool Crown Court. |
| Kevin Bennett, 53, was attacked near the Iceland supermarket in Walton Road, Liverpool, about 05:30 BST on 17 August. | Kevin Bennett, 53, was attacked near the Iceland supermarket in Walton Road, Liverpool, about 05:30 BST on 17 August. |
| He was taken to hospital with serious injuries but died six days later. | He was taken to hospital with serious injuries but died six days later. |
| The boys, two aged 14 and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Mr Bennett. | The boys, two aged 14 and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Mr Bennett. |
| Linda Doran, 42, of Teulon Close, Liverpool, was also convicted of perverting the course of public justice by providing false alibis for two defendants. | Linda Doran, 42, of Teulon Close, Liverpool, was also convicted of perverting the course of public justice by providing false alibis for two defendants. |
| Goaded younger boy | |
| All four were remanded in custody for sentencing in the week commencing 15 April. | All four were remanded in custody for sentencing in the week commencing 15 April. |
| Trial judge, Recorder Clement Goldstone QC, ordered psychiatric and psychological assessments of the boys to be carried out. | Trial judge, Recorder Clement Goldstone QC, ordered psychiatric and psychological assessments of the boys to be carried out. |
| Earlier in the trial the jury was told the 17-year-old had goaded one of the 14-year-olds by saying: "I bet you haven't got it in you to do him in." | Earlier in the trial the jury was told the 17-year-old had goaded one of the 14-year-olds by saying: "I bet you haven't got it in you to do him in." |
| The court heard the younger boy later told his friend: "I started kicking him, I booted him and now he's dead." | The court heard the younger boy later told his friend: "I started kicking him, I booted him and now he's dead." |
| The second 14-year-old stood look-out as the attack took place, the prosecution said. | The second 14-year-old stood look-out as the attack took place, the prosecution said. |
| Mr Bennett, described as "vulnerable" by the prosecution, suffered a fractured eye socket, a collapsed lung and a broken ribcage. | Mr Bennett, described as "vulnerable" by the prosecution, suffered a fractured eye socket, a collapsed lung and a broken ribcage. |
| He died in hospital from blood poisoning after an infection set in, causing organ failure, a post-mortem examination found. | He died in hospital from blood poisoning after an infection set in, causing organ failure, a post-mortem examination found. |
| Jailed for photographs | |
| The court was told how Mr Bennett had been in the pub from 11:00 BST on 16 August and had consumed between 10 and 12 cans of lager. | The court was told how Mr Bennett had been in the pub from 11:00 BST on 16 August and had consumed between 10 and 12 cans of lager. |
| He left just after midnight with more beer in a carrier bag and settled down for the night behind the Iceland store. | |
| He was discovered, injured, by Iceland staff arriving for work at 07:00 BST the next day. | |
| Speaking outside court, Mr Bennett's cousin Angela Connerty, 49, said: "Kevin was a loving person who would do anything for anyone - nothing was ever trouble to him. | |
| "We hope nobody else's family have to go through what we have gone through and we are now pleased we have got justice." | |
| During the trial Doran's son, Jordan, 21, was held in contempt of court by Recorder Goldstone after being caught using a mobile phone to take photographs in the courtroom. | |
| He was jailed for six months on 8 February but legal restrictions banned reporting of this until the end of the trial. |