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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jury acquits murder case youths | Jury acquits murder case youths |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two men accused of murdering a father-of-two following an argument outside a takeaway have been acquitted. | |
| James Diggens, 19, of Henley, Oxon, and Kes Ingoldsby, 18, of Caversham Park Village, Reading, had denied murdering Stephen Langford on 9 December 2006. | James Diggens, 19, of Henley, Oxon, and Kes Ingoldsby, 18, of Caversham Park Village, Reading, had denied murdering Stephen Langford on 9 December 2006. |
| Mr Langford died after an argument outside a takeaway in Henley. | Mr Langford died after an argument outside a takeaway in Henley. |
| The Inner London Crown Court had earlier heard how the 43-year-old was kicked and punched and left fatally injured in the attack in Greys Road. | The Inner London Crown Court had earlier heard how the 43-year-old was kicked and punched and left fatally injured in the attack in Greys Road. |
| They [Mr Langford's family] are saddened that no-one has been held to account for the taking of Stephen's life Det Insp Pete Dowling of Thames Valley Police | |
| Mr Langford had been enjoying a night out with friends when he and another man, Gary Joynes, decided to visit the Southern Fried Chicken and Pizza Takeaway on the day he was attacked. | |
| During the trial, the court heard that a young woman saw a group of young men surrounding Mr Langford. | |
| Prosecutor Julian Baughan told the court "there were raised voices" and Mr Langford "was punched hard in the face". | |
| He then fell backwards on to the ground. | |
| An ambulance was called but attempts to revive Mr Langford were unsuccessful and he died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Mr Baughan added. | |
| 'A lovely man' | |
| A statement from Mr Langford's family's read: "Even with a conviction and sentence we would still be losers today. | |
| "Remember, we lost Steve - a man of great presence, pride, honour, integrity, laughter. | |
| "We've lost a caring, loving son, brother and father. | |
| "Steve was suddenly and cruelly taken from us - leaving a huge vacuum for his family and friends. | |
| "Steve was a lovely man." | |
| Det Insp Pete Dowling, from Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, described the case as "sad". | |
| He said: "My condolences and thoughts are with Stephen Langford's family at this difficult time." | |
| Singing stars | |
| Kes Ingoldsby is the son of millionaire music producer Denis Ingoldsby, who launched the music careers of singers, Louise Nurding and Dina Carroll. | |
| Det Insp Dowling added: "They [the family] are saddened that no-one has been held to account for the taking of Stephen's life. | |
| "We are satisfied that the evidence has been thoroughly examined and tested to assist the jury to reach their verdict." |