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Men guilty after mother's tip-off | Men guilty after mother's tip-off |
(1 day later) | |
Two men have been found guilty of attempted murder after the mother of one of them told police she heard the pair discussing an attack on a man. | Two men have been found guilty of attempted murder after the mother of one of them told police she heard the pair discussing an attack on a man. |
Liam Edwards, 27, and Adam Stebbing, 32, stamped on Scott Speirs' head at least 12 times and left him for dead in Southampton's Freemantle Lake Park. | Liam Edwards, 27, and Adam Stebbing, 32, stamped on Scott Speirs' head at least 12 times and left him for dead in Southampton's Freemantle Lake Park. |
Mr Speirs, 34, is still in a coma seven months after the attack in December. | Mr Speirs, 34, is still in a coma seven months after the attack in December. |
The two men were arrested after Liam Edwards' mother informed on them to the police. Sentencing was adjourned. | |
Mr Speirs was attacked about an hour after arriving at Southampton railway station, after dropping off his young son in Winchester. | Mr Speirs was attacked about an hour after arriving at Southampton railway station, after dropping off his young son in Winchester. |
I think the mother is a very brave lady Sue SpeirsVictim's mother He was stamped on, punched and kicked by Edwards and Stebbing in a shelter near the children's play section of the park. | I think the mother is a very brave lady Sue SpeirsVictim's mother He was stamped on, punched and kicked by Edwards and Stebbing in a shelter near the children's play section of the park. |
Edwards and Stebbing fled the scene but the court heard they attacked Mr Speirs again when they returned to the shelter to look for a mobile phone. | Edwards and Stebbing fled the scene but the court heard they attacked Mr Speirs again when they returned to the shelter to look for a mobile phone. |
The victim's mother, Sue Speirs, said her son will need 24-hour care if he ever wakes up from the coma. | The victim's mother, Sue Speirs, said her son will need 24-hour care if he ever wakes up from the coma. |
"If he comes out of it, he'll be extremely physically and mentally handicapped," she said. | "If he comes out of it, he'll be extremely physically and mentally handicapped," she said. |
Edwards and Stebbing were arrested about a week after the attack when Edwards' mother overheard her son talking to his accomplice about the attack. | Edwards and Stebbing were arrested about a week after the attack when Edwards' mother overheard her son talking to his accomplice about the attack. |
Scott Speirs is still in a coma seven months after the attackHilary Kellett said hearing about the attack made her feel sick. | Scott Speirs is still in a coma seven months after the attackHilary Kellett said hearing about the attack made her feel sick. |
"I was very upset at the thought that my own son could do something so horrific." | "I was very upset at the thought that my own son could do something so horrific." |
She said she found it hard to call the police: "I did it about eight times and when I got to the last number I just put the phone down because I couldn't finish dialling," she said. | She said she found it hard to call the police: "I did it about eight times and when I got to the last number I just put the phone down because I couldn't finish dialling," she said. |
"So I just kept trying and wrestled with my conscience a few times. | "So I just kept trying and wrestled with my conscience a few times. |
"I just kept thinking that if I don't do something now, it could be me that's getting that knock on the door or phone call that Sue Speirs had." | "I just kept thinking that if I don't do something now, it could be me that's getting that knock on the door or phone call that Sue Speirs had." |
She said she has had to move home as a result of going to the police, and her daughter no longer speaks to her: "But it had to be done," she said. | She said she has had to move home as a result of going to the police, and her daughter no longer speaks to her: "But it had to be done," she said. |
Scott Speirs was attacked in a shelter in the parkMrs Speirs added: "I think the mother is a very brave lady. | Scott Speirs was attacked in a shelter in the parkMrs Speirs added: "I think the mother is a very brave lady. |
"It must have taken a real courageous step to do that." | "It must have taken a real courageous step to do that." |
Det Insp Kath Barnes, of Hampshire Constabulary, said she had never come across a mother handing in her own son to the police. | Det Insp Kath Barnes, of Hampshire Constabulary, said she had never come across a mother handing in her own son to the police. |
"I've never come across that in my career, for such a serious incident, so it is extremely unusual," she said. | "I've never come across that in my career, for such a serious incident, so it is extremely unusual," she said. |
"You can imagine, as a parent, what a position to be in. It was absolutely vital to this investigation." | "You can imagine, as a parent, what a position to be in. It was absolutely vital to this investigation." |
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