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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 shopped them to the police. Sentencing was adjourned. 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."