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| 'Paedophile' taunt gang convicted | 'Paedophile' taunt gang convicted |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Three members of a gang have been jailed for life for murdering a Hampshire man after one of them falsely accused him of being a paedophile. | Three members of a gang have been jailed for life for murdering a Hampshire man after one of them falsely accused him of being a paedophile. |
| Brian Kitching, 68, from Portsmouth, suffered brain damage in the attack in a rock garden on Southsea seafront in September 2005. | Brian Kitching, 68, from Portsmouth, suffered brain damage in the attack in a rock garden on Southsea seafront in September 2005. |
| Mr Kitching never recovered and died in a nursing home six months later. | Mr Kitching never recovered and died in a nursing home six months later. |
| The gang included two teenage girls, one of whom was pregnant at the time of the attack. | |
| This was a sustained violent attack committed by a group of drunken youths on a defenceless man of advancing years Mrs Justice Dobbs | This was a sustained violent attack committed by a group of drunken youths on a defenceless man of advancing years Mrs Justice Dobbs |
| Paul Dewar, 27, of no fixed address but originally from Taunton, Somerset, Amie Bartholomew, 20, and 17-year-old Melissa Healy (nee Conran), both from Portsmouth, had denied murder. | Paul Dewar, 27, of no fixed address but originally from Taunton, Somerset, Amie Bartholomew, 20, and 17-year-old Melissa Healy (nee Conran), both from Portsmouth, had denied murder. |
| But they were convicted at Winchester Crown Court and the judge lifted reporting restrictions that had prevented the identification of Healy because of her age. | But they were convicted at Winchester Crown Court and the judge lifted reporting restrictions that had prevented the identification of Healy because of her age. |
| Another member of the gang, Lewis Hoare, 19, from Portsmouth, had earlier pleaded guilty to murder. | Another member of the gang, Lewis Hoare, 19, from Portsmouth, had earlier pleaded guilty to murder. |
| During the trial, the jury heard Bartholomew, then 18 and pregnant, started the attack when she shouted to Mr Kitching that he was a "dirty paedophile" and punched him. | During the trial, the jury heard Bartholomew, then 18 and pregnant, started the attack when she shouted to Mr Kitching that he was a "dirty paedophile" and punched him. |
| There was no evidence at all that Mr Kitching was a paedophile | There was no evidence at all that Mr Kitching was a paedophile |
| Mr Kitching was not known to the group and there was no evidence at all he was a paedophile, the court was told. | Mr Kitching was not known to the group and there was no evidence at all he was a paedophile, the court was told. |
| He suffered brain damage, fractured eye sockets, a punctured lung and fractured ribs and died in March 2006 because his brain damage meant he could not cough and he suffocated in his own vomit. | He suffered brain damage, fractured eye sockets, a punctured lung and fractured ribs and died in March 2006 because his brain damage meant he could not cough and he suffocated in his own vomit. |
| Some of the group, who had been drinking heavily, had attacked two other people during the day the court was told. | Some of the group, who had been drinking heavily, had attacked two other people during the day the court was told. |
| After attacking Mr Kitching all four washed their clothing in the sea but witnesses recognised some of them and they were arrested shortly afterwards. | After attacking Mr Kitching all four washed their clothing in the sea but witnesses recognised some of them and they were arrested shortly afterwards. |
| A jury of six men and six women took nine hours to find the trio guilty of murder. | A jury of six men and six women took nine hours to find the trio guilty of murder. |
| Sentencing them, Mrs Justice Dobbs said Mr Kitching was subject to "an unprovoked and brutal attack". | Sentencing them, Mrs Justice Dobbs said Mr Kitching was subject to "an unprovoked and brutal attack". |
| Hoare will be sentenced at a later date after admitting murder | Hoare will be sentenced at a later date after admitting murder |
| She added: "It is clear that this was a sustained violent attack committed by a group of drunken youths on a defenceless man of advancing years." | She added: "It is clear that this was a sustained violent attack committed by a group of drunken youths on a defenceless man of advancing years." |
| She said Mr Kitching was "curled up with his hands over his head" while being attacked and added: "Nobody did anything to help Mr Kitching when it was obvious he was in a bad way." | She said Mr Kitching was "curled up with his hands over his head" while being attacked and added: "Nobody did anything to help Mr Kitching when it was obvious he was in a bad way." |
| Dewar will serve a minimum of 16 years, minus the 277 days already spent in custody; Bartholomew will serve a minimum of 15 years; and Healy was told she would serve a minimum of 10 years. | Dewar will serve a minimum of 16 years, minus the 277 days already spent in custody; Bartholomew will serve a minimum of 15 years; and Healy was told she would serve a minimum of 10 years. |
| Hoare will be sentenced at a later date. | Hoare will be sentenced at a later date. |