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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pair convicted of viaduct murder | Pair convicted of viaduct murder |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man and a teenage girl have been found guilty of the murder of a man with learning disabilities. | A man and a teenage girl have been found guilty of the murder of a man with learning disabilities. |
| Steven Hoskin, 38, from St Austell, Cornwall, was humiliated and abused for hours by a gang, a court heard. | Steven Hoskin, 38, from St Austell, Cornwall, was humiliated and abused for hours by a gang, a court heard. |
| He was drugged, taken to a viaduct and forced to hang from railings. The 17-year-old girl stamped on his hands causing him to fall 100ft to his death. | He was drugged, taken to a viaduct and forced to hang from railings. The 17-year-old girl stamped on his hands causing him to fall 100ft to his death. |
| Darren Stewart, 30, was jailed for life and the girl detained. Another man was convicted of manslaughter. | Darren Stewart, 30, was jailed for life and the girl detained. Another man was convicted of manslaughter. |
| Martin Pollard, 21, had also been accused of murder but was convicted of the lesser charge by a jury at Truro Crown Court. | Martin Pollard, 21, had also been accused of murder but was convicted of the lesser charge by a jury at Truro Crown Court. |
| All three had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and Pollard and Stewart had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment. The girl was convicted of false imprisonment. | All three had pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and Pollard and Stewart had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment. The girl was convicted of false imprisonment. |
| Collectively their behaviour culminated in unparalleled cruelty and evil that has absolutely no place in modern society Det Ch Insp Mike Fowkes | Collectively their behaviour culminated in unparalleled cruelty and evil that has absolutely no place in modern society Det Ch Insp Mike Fowkes |
| Two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named, were also found guilty of assault and false imprisonment. | Two 17-year-old boys, who cannot be named, were also found guilty of assault and false imprisonment. |
| The jury at the Truro Crown Court heard Mr Hoskin, who had the reading ability of a six-year-old, was burnt with cigarettes, walked around on a dog lead and was forced to confess to being a paedophile. | The jury at the Truro Crown Court heard Mr Hoskin, who had the reading ability of a six-year-old, was burnt with cigarettes, walked around on a dog lead and was forced to confess to being a paedophile. |
| He was also forced to eat 70 paracetamol tablets. | He was also forced to eat 70 paracetamol tablets. |
| The teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court a plan was then hatched to take him to the top of a viaduct in Trenance Road, St Austell "to scare him". | The teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court a plan was then hatched to take him to the top of a viaduct in Trenance Road, St Austell "to scare him". |
| Meagre home | Meagre home |
| Mr Hoskin was stamped on and kicked in the face as he clung to railings at the viaduct, the court heard. | Mr Hoskin was stamped on and kicked in the face as he clung to railings at the viaduct, the court heard. |
| The jury took about 15 hours to reach their verdicts on all three defendants accused of murder. | The jury took about 15 hours to reach their verdicts on all three defendants accused of murder. |
| Steven Hoskin was beaten and forced to act like a dog | Steven Hoskin was beaten and forced to act like a dog |
| Stewart was found not guilty of intimidating a witness. | Stewart was found not guilty of intimidating a witness. |
| The remainder of the sentencing will take place on Monday. The judge said he would consider the possibility of lifting an order protecting the identities of the juveniles. | |
| Det Ch Insp Mike Fowkes, senior investigating officer, said: "The group of five defendants tortured him in the secrecy and privacy of his own home, a meagre home he had willingly opened to them with the hand of friendship. | Det Ch Insp Mike Fowkes, senior investigating officer, said: "The group of five defendants tortured him in the secrecy and privacy of his own home, a meagre home he had willingly opened to them with the hand of friendship. |
| "Collectively their behaviour culminated in unparalleled cruelty and evil that has absolutely no place in modern society." | "Collectively their behaviour culminated in unparalleled cruelty and evil that has absolutely no place in modern society." |
| Thomas Hoskin said his nephew had led a "simple life" and the group had taken advantage of his inability to recognise evil in people. | Thomas Hoskin said his nephew had led a "simple life" and the group had taken advantage of his inability to recognise evil in people. |
| "Today the persons responsible for his death have been convicted for their part in Steven's death and we now hope he can finally rest in peace." | "Today the persons responsible for his death have been convicted for their part in Steven's death and we now hope he can finally rest in peace." |
| Cornwall County Council has confirmed that a multi-agency review will be held to see if any lessons can be learned from "this terrible incident". | Cornwall County Council has confirmed that a multi-agency review will be held to see if any lessons can be learned from "this terrible incident". |