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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boys admit 'happy slap' killing | Boys admit 'happy slap' killing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two teenagers have been detained for killing an artist in a so-called "happy slapping" attack. | Two teenagers have been detained for killing an artist in a so-called "happy slapping" attack. |
| Peter Ramsey, 40, died in hospital on 13 October last year, three days after being set upon near Tesco Express in the Millbrook area of Southampton. | Peter Ramsey, 40, died in hospital on 13 October last year, three days after being set upon near Tesco Express in the Millbrook area of Southampton. |
| One youth punched him and the other slapped him in an attack they had planned to film on a mobile phone. | One youth punched him and the other slapped him in an attack they had planned to film on a mobile phone. |
| The youths, aged 13 and 15 at the time and who cannot be named for legal reasons, had admitted manslaughter. | The youths, aged 13 and 15 at the time and who cannot be named for legal reasons, had admitted manslaughter. |
| They were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday. | They were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday. |
| The court was told the boys hatched a plan to "happy slap" Mr Ramsay, of Green Park Road, Millbrook, as part of a campaign against the Canadian-born father-of-two. | The court was told the boys hatched a plan to "happy slap" Mr Ramsay, of Green Park Road, Millbrook, as part of a campaign against the Canadian-born father-of-two. |
| They followed Mr Ramsey and his girlfriend, Vicky Lewis, home from the supermarket when the youngest boy slapped him and the elder boy punched him hard in the face. | They followed Mr Ramsey and his girlfriend, Vicky Lewis, home from the supermarket when the youngest boy slapped him and the elder boy punched him hard in the face. |
| The event was made worse by an intention to record the attack on the telephone as if to boast Mr Justice Irwin | The event was made worse by an intention to record the attack on the telephone as if to boast Mr Justice Irwin |
| One of the group had been asked to film the attack on his camera phone but refused. | One of the group had been asked to film the attack on his camera phone but refused. |
| Justin Gau, prosecuting, told the court: "This is a very sad case where anti-social behaviour turned to tragedy, where happy slapping turned to manslaughter." | Justin Gau, prosecuting, told the court: "This is a very sad case where anti-social behaviour turned to tragedy, where happy slapping turned to manslaughter." |
| Mr Ramsey fell over like "a domino" and hit his head on the concrete floor, said Mr Gau. | Mr Ramsey fell over like "a domino" and hit his head on the concrete floor, said Mr Gau. |
| The boys ran off after the attack but later turned themselves in. | The boys ran off after the attack but later turned themselves in. |
| Mr Ramsey returned home, but late that evening Miss Lewis found him collapsed and covered in blood in their bedroom. | Mr Ramsey returned home, but late that evening Miss Lewis found him collapsed and covered in blood in their bedroom. |
| Fresh start | Fresh start |
| Miss Lewis described her boyfriend, as a "gentle giant" in her victim impact statement, which was read out in court. | Miss Lewis described her boyfriend, as a "gentle giant" in her victim impact statement, which was read out in court. |
| He had left his native Canada, where he had two teenage children, for a fresh start in the UK. | He had left his native Canada, where he had two teenage children, for a fresh start in the UK. |
| Whenever he went to shop he would get anxious in case they were going to be there Vicky Lewis, victim's girlfriend | Whenever he went to shop he would get anxious in case they were going to be there Vicky Lewis, victim's girlfriend |
| He was talented artist and former bodybuilder but became an alcoholic, the court heard. | |
| Miss Lewis said: "He really couldn't understand why he was being picked on. | Miss Lewis said: "He really couldn't understand why he was being picked on. |
| "He was by nature a good humoured gentle giant but the abuse from the group changed him. | "He was by nature a good humoured gentle giant but the abuse from the group changed him. |
| "Whenever he went to shop he would get anxious in case they were going to be there." | "Whenever he went to shop he would get anxious in case they were going to be there." |
| The last thing Mr Ramsey said to her was sorry. | The last thing Mr Ramsey said to her was sorry. |
| Miss Lewis added: "He apologised to me for not being able to make it to the bathroom when he fell on the floor." | Miss Lewis added: "He apologised to me for not being able to make it to the bathroom when he fell on the floor." |
| Life support machine | Life support machine |
| Mr Ramsey was operated on twice at Southampton General Hospital and suffered two strokes. | Mr Ramsey was operated on twice at Southampton General Hospital and suffered two strokes. |
| His life support machine was switched off on 13 October. | His life support machine was switched off on 13 October. |
| The court was told both boys suffered domestic violence and have previous records for robbery. | The court was told both boys suffered domestic violence and have previous records for robbery. |
| Mr Justice Irwin, sentencing the boys, said: "You two killed Peter Ramsey by hitting him. | Mr Justice Irwin, sentencing the boys, said: "You two killed Peter Ramsey by hitting him. |
| "You did not intend to do that or to cause him really serious harm, that is the distinction between manslaughter and murder, but you killed him nonetheless. | "You did not intend to do that or to cause him really serious harm, that is the distinction between manslaughter and murder, but you killed him nonetheless. |
| "The event was made worse by an intention to record the attack on the telephone as if to boast of it rather than to be ashamed of it." | "The event was made worse by an intention to record the attack on the telephone as if to boast of it rather than to be ashamed of it." |
| 'Learn their lesson' | 'Learn their lesson' |
| The eldest boy could be eligible for release on licence in about 10 months after he was told he would serve 18 months of a three-year sentence minus 250 days already served. | The eldest boy could be eligible for release on licence in about 10 months after he was told he would serve 18 months of a three-year sentence minus 250 days already served. |
| The younger boy will be eligible for release on licence in about eight months after he was detained for two-and-a-half years and told he would serve at least 15 months minus 233 days already served. | The younger boy will be eligible for release on licence in about eight months after he was detained for two-and-a-half years and told he would serve at least 15 months minus 233 days already served. |
| Miss Lewis said, in a statement, that she was "very happy" with the sentences. | Miss Lewis said, in a statement, that she was "very happy" with the sentences. |
| "We feel he [the judge] did the best he could in the circumstances." | "We feel he [the judge] did the best he could in the circumstances." |