Happy slap gang guilty

[Anisa]

A teenage girl and three youths were convicted at the Old Bailey of killing bar manager David Morley during a "happy slapping" spree of random violence.

The feral pack of youths who hunted London streets for victims stood impassively in the dock as they were found guilty of manslaughter by the jury on its sixth day of deliberations. They will be sentenced in January and face lengthy terms.


Mr Morley, 38, from Chiswick, west London, survived the Soho nail bomb blast only to be savagely beaten to death by the "Clockwork Orange-style" thugs. Mr Morley's father Jeff said after the jury's verdicts that "the rest of society will be safer while these dangerous misfits are kept off the street".

The gang was seeking violence for its own sake, prosecutor Richard Horwell had told jurors. He said the 14-year-old girl, now 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had kicked Mr Morley's head like a football as he lay on the ground.

After the killing, the gang members carried on their attacks and the girl later filmed their last assault on a mobile phone, the court heard. Within one hour they had set upon eight people in five separate attacks in the early part of October 30 last year.

Mr Morley's friend Alastair Whiteside watched helplessly as he saw his companion's head being kicked. The two men had been chatting by the Thames when they were both attacked by the grinning youths. Mr Whiteside was continually kicked and punched while Mr Morley was brutally beaten a few yards away.

The youths - Darren Case, 18, Reece Sargeant, 21, the girl and another 17-year-old - all from Kennington, south London - were cleared of murder but convicted of the alternative charge of manslaughter. They were also convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. but were cleared of conspiracy to rob.

Two others - Barry Lee, 20, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named because of his age - were cleared of all charges and freed. All six defendants had denied the charges.

During the trial, Mr Morley's parents, Jeff and Doreen Morley, sat only a few feet away from where the teenage girl was sitting. Because of her age she was allowed to sit outside the dock and was often laughing and chatting.

Mr and Mrs Morley remember the son whom they adopted as a baby with the love and affection he had always shown them. Mrs Morley, 74, said: "He was a wonderful son. We have only become aware of his good works since he died. He was a bigger man than we ever knew. We miss him so much - as do a good many others.

[Ghazala]

I can't believe this bii.itch laughed & chatted like that. His poor parents. Actually, no I CAN believe it. Msakhet. I hope they get looooooooooooooooooong sentences.

[Anisa]

Me too that 14 year old girl is the ring leader

[Ghazala]

Boredom, no parental discipline & ignorance creates psychos like this.

Scary to think that random violent youths could come & slap you to death just for fun

[Khalidz]

This is the kinda cr@p we must protect our brothers and sisters from!

Parents have to play a major role to do with this and should shoulder most of the blame!

[Anisa]

They've all been cleared of murder It makes my blood boil I saw his father on the news last night, really heartbreaking

Where are these kids parents?

[Khalidz]

Cleared!!!! no way?? where did u see this?

Wa hadi mosiba!!!