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| Boy guilty of disabled man murder | Boy guilty of disabled man murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A teenager has been convicted of the murder of a disabled man who was kicked to death by a gang "for sport". | A teenager has been convicted of the murder of a disabled man who was kicked to death by a gang "for sport". |
| Brent Martin, 23, who had learning difficulties, died in hospital after being found in a pool of blood on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate. | Brent Martin, 23, who had learning difficulties, died in hospital after being found in a pool of blood on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate. |
| The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, and two others beat their victim in a £5 bet over who could knock him out, Newcastle Crown Court heard. | |
| William Hughes, 21, and a youth, aged 16, have already admitted murder. | William Hughes, 21, and a youth, aged 16, have already admitted murder. |
| The teenagers, who trained as boxers, repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head-butted their victim. | |
| A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a massive head injury and had suffered at least 18 separate blows to the head and neck. | A post-mortem examination revealed he died from a massive head injury and had suffered at least 18 separate blows to the head and neck. |
| During his trial, the court heard that the 17-year-old defendant later told witnesses: "I am not going down for a muppet." | During his trial, the court heard that the 17-year-old defendant later told witnesses: "I am not going down for a muppet." |
| They behaved like a pack of animals - they did this for their own sport Toby Hedworth QC | |
| Toby Hedworth QC, prosecuting said: "This young man had learning disabilities and had spend nine years of his life in psychiatric hospitals. | |
| "He was systematically attacked, demeaned, head butted and beaten by people whom he misguidedly believed to be his friends. | |
| "They behaved like a pack of animals. | |
| "Brent Martin never lifted an aggressive finger towards them and they did that to him until he was dead. They did that for their own sport." | |
| The jury of eight men and four women took four hours to convict the teenager, who sat emotionless as he was found guilty. | |
| 'No mercy' | |
| Judge John Milford QC warned the defendant and his two co-accused, who were not in court, they faced a mandatory life sentence. | |
| Sentencing will take place at a later date. | |
| Mr Hedworth added: "As the attack went on, its nature, ferocity and perseverance made it quite clear they were not happy until he was dead. | |
| "At that time they were using that violence towards him they had no such sensibility, no restraint, no qualms and no mercy." | |
| The mother of the 16-year-old has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by washing her son's bloodstained clothes. | The mother of the 16-year-old has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by washing her son's bloodstained clothes. |
| No date has yet been set for her trial. | No date has yet been set for her trial. |