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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brothers admit banker's killing | Brothers admit banker's killing |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two men have admitted the manslaughter of a banker who died in an attack as he "bravely" tried to help a homeless man. | Two men have admitted the manslaughter of a banker who died in an attack as he "bravely" tried to help a homeless man. |
| Frank McGarahan, 45, of Hertfordshire, was an executive at Barclays Wealth and died in hospital the day after the attack in Norwich on 28 September 2008. | Frank McGarahan, 45, of Hertfordshire, was an executive at Barclays Wealth and died in hospital the day after the attack in Norwich on 28 September 2008. |
| Brothers Tom and Ben Cowles, aged 22 and 21, of Beaumont Road, Costessey, near Norwich, appeared at the city's crown court. | |
| Both also admitted affray, and Ben Cowles admitted a charge of assault. | Both also admitted affray, and Ben Cowles admitted a charge of assault. |
| They had pleaded not guilty to murder at a previous hearing. | They had pleaded not guilty to murder at a previous hearing. |
| Down-and-out | Down-and-out |
| Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said Mr McGarahan, his brother Kevin and cousin Sean Ryan had witnessed an assault on another man in central Norwich at about 0300 BST. | Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said Mr McGarahan, his brother Kevin and cousin Sean Ryan had witnessed an assault on another man in central Norwich at about 0300 BST. |
| Mr Dennis said they had intervened after witnessing a group of youths attacking a man of "down-and-out appearance". | Mr Dennis said they had intervened after witnessing a group of youths attacking a man of "down-and-out appearance". |
| "In the circumstances we submit (they) bravely intervened when many others would have stepped back," he said. | "In the circumstances we submit (they) bravely intervened when many others would have stepped back," he said. |
| The court saw CCTV footage of the incident captured by a number of city centre cameras. | The court saw CCTV footage of the incident captured by a number of city centre cameras. |
| The footage showed the three men approach with "non-aggressive intent". | The footage showed the three men approach with "non-aggressive intent". |
| Mr Dennis said they were then met with abuse, with one of the group of youths trying to justify the attack on the "down-and-out" by saying: "You don't know what he has done. He has got what he deserved." | Mr Dennis said they were then met with abuse, with one of the group of youths trying to justify the attack on the "down-and-out" by saying: "You don't know what he has done. He has got what he deserved." |
| Mr Dennis said Kevin McGarahan had then called the group of youths "cowards". | Mr Dennis said Kevin McGarahan had then called the group of youths "cowards". |
| Lying motionless | Lying motionless |
| He said shortly afterwards Ben Cowles ran at Mr McGarahan and punched him in the head before attacking his brother. | He said shortly afterwards Ben Cowles ran at Mr McGarahan and punched him in the head before attacking his brother. |
| Tom Cowles also attacked both Frank and Kevin McGarahan. | Tom Cowles also attacked both Frank and Kevin McGarahan. |
| Another man, Daniel Moy, was seen to emerge from the group of youths and punch Sean Ryan. | Another man, Daniel Moy, was seen to emerge from the group of youths and punch Sean Ryan. |
| The CCTV footage showed Mr McGarahan being punched to the floor, held in a headlock and punched, rising to his feet and staggering before collapsing and lying motionless on his back. | The CCTV footage showed Mr McGarahan being punched to the floor, held in a headlock and punched, rising to his feet and staggering before collapsing and lying motionless on his back. |
| It also showed Kevin McGarahan being punched to the floor. | It also showed Kevin McGarahan being punched to the floor. |
| Mr McGarahan's cousin, Sean Ryan, is also seen being punched. | Mr McGarahan's cousin, Sean Ryan, is also seen being punched. |
| Mr Dennis said the CCTV footage showed members of the group containing the brothers running away after the incident. | Mr Dennis said the CCTV footage showed members of the group containing the brothers running away after the incident. |
| Sentencing will be on 26 June. | Sentencing will be on 26 June. |