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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Boys sentenced for stoning death | Boys sentenced for stoning death |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Five boys have been sentenced to two years' detention for killing a father who collapsed with a heart attack after being pelted with stones and rocks. | Five boys have been sentenced to two years' detention for killing a father who collapsed with a heart attack after being pelted with stones and rocks. |
| Ernest Norton, 67, was playing cricket with his son at a leisure centre in Erith, south-east London, when he was targeted in February 2006. | Ernest Norton, 67, was playing cricket with his son at a leisure centre in Erith, south-east London, when he was targeted in February 2006. |
| The pair came under a hail of missiles and two stones hit Mr Norton's head. | The pair came under a hail of missiles and two stones hit Mr Norton's head. |
| The boys, now aged between 12 and 14, were convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder in August. | The boys, now aged between 12 and 14, were convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder in August. |
| Passing the sentence at the Old Bailey, Judge Warwick McKinnon said: "The conduct of all of you as a group was utterly disgraceful and criminally irresponsible." | Passing the sentence at the Old Bailey, Judge Warwick McKinnon said: "The conduct of all of you as a group was utterly disgraceful and criminally irresponsible." |
| A victim impact statement by the victim's wife Linda Norton, read out in court by prosecution counsel Anthony Orchard, said: "Ernie's death has affected our lives in so many ways, we are still trying to be normal and enjoy ourselves again but I don't think I ever will." | A victim impact statement by the victim's wife Linda Norton, read out in court by prosecution counsel Anthony Orchard, said: "Ernie's death has affected our lives in so many ways, we are still trying to be normal and enjoy ourselves again but I don't think I ever will." |
| The statement said Mr Norton's death had a "dramatic effect" on his daughter and son. | The statement said Mr Norton's death had a "dramatic effect" on his daughter and son. |
| 'Vicious, unprovoked attack' | 'Vicious, unprovoked attack' |
| Following the sentence, Det Insp Clive Hayes said he hoped the "tough sentence" will "act as a deterrent" to other youths tempted to get involved in anti-social behaviour. | Following the sentence, Det Insp Clive Hayes said he hoped the "tough sentence" will "act as a deterrent" to other youths tempted to get involved in anti-social behaviour. |
| He added that Mr Norton's family was "satisfied" and felt "justice has been done". | He added that Mr Norton's family was "satisfied" and felt "justice has been done". |
| To put things simply, the house is just empty without Ernie and life will never be the same again Linda Norton, wife href="/1/hi/england/london/7052913.stm">Widow 'lost' without husband class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/6967390.stm">Wife and son watched him die Parents told to control boys | |
| The boys wept and hugged their parents following sentencing. | The boys wept and hugged their parents following sentencing. |
| Judge McKinnon said: "This was a vicious, entirely unprovoked and sustained group attack involving a barrage of missiles. | Judge McKinnon said: "This was a vicious, entirely unprovoked and sustained group attack involving a barrage of missiles. |
| He added the boys "hyped" themselves up by "earlier rowdy mischief and misbehaviour" before attacking Mr Norton. | He added the boys "hyped" themselves up by "earlier rowdy mischief and misbehaviour" before attacking Mr Norton. |
| A jury heard Mr Norton was hit on the head at least twice. | A jury heard Mr Norton was hit on the head at least twice. |
| "A child would realise your actions were dangerous, running the risk that injury would result. I am satisfied that each one of you were aware of that danger," the judge said. | "A child would realise your actions were dangerous, running the risk that injury would result. I am satisfied that each one of you were aware of that danger," the judge said. |
| The father and son were playing cricket in the tennis court | The father and son were playing cricket in the tennis court |
| Mr Norton had set up stumps with his 17-year-old son James in a tennis court to practise bowling. | Mr Norton had set up stumps with his 17-year-old son James in a tennis court to practise bowling. |
| But they were approached by up to 20 youths who began shouting abuse including "rubbish bowler" and "go back to the old people's home". | But they were approached by up to 20 youths who began shouting abuse including "rubbish bowler" and "go back to the old people's home". |
| Mr Norton tried to scare them off but they threw stones, rocks and pieces of wood at him and he collapsed, bleeding heavily. | Mr Norton tried to scare them off but they threw stones, rocks and pieces of wood at him and he collapsed, bleeding heavily. |
| "We were just keeping ourselves to ourselves," James Norton had told the court. | "We were just keeping ourselves to ourselves," James Norton had told the court. |
| "It just seemed they wanted to pick on someone." | "It just seemed they wanted to pick on someone." |
| James and his mother Linda watched as an off-duty police officer tried in vain to resuscitate Mr Norton. | James and his mother Linda watched as an off-duty police officer tried in vain to resuscitate Mr Norton. |