Buzzin Disgrace

A gang of teenage thugs, high on drink and drugs, beat a former soldier to death for money to buy more drink and drugs.

Stephen Green, 55-years-old, had left Linpac in Dunstable at about midnight on Friday 4th May 2007, after working a late shift. As usual Stephen began to make his way home and when he reached the underpass that leads under the M1, he dismounted his bicycle. Stephen was then ambushed by four men - Nicholas Garland, 18, Shane Liddy, 19, Richard McNamara,19, Darryll Bennett, 18, all from Luton in Bedfordshire.

Mr Green was left for dead after being savagely kicked, stamped upon and battered with a large stick. He was spotted by a passerby two hours later and he clung to life in hospital until the 14th May when he died from a blood clot on the brain caused by his injuries.

His rucksack wais found discarded near the scene of the attack and still contained the £5.65 he was attacked for.

At the court hearing it was revealed that two of the murderers were on bail at the time for other robberies and one was serving a community punishment for attempted robbery. All four killers are now facing mandatory life sentences after being convicted of murder.

Judge John Bevan QC told the thugs “This is a dreadful and depressing tale. You all have such a warped outlook on life that you can brutally end the life of a hard-working man who was riding through an underpass at midnight.”

“You kicked and brutalised him when he was defenceless and three of you have failed to show the slightest remorse or regret.”

Mr Green was cycling home to Luton in the early hours of the morning and was confronted by the teenagers as he rode under the bypass. They had been drinking beer and brandy and smoking cannabis. The head of the group, Bennett, stopped him and put his hand over the bike’s light and shouted “What have you got for me?” Mr Green was attacked before he could even answer.

Tests were carried out on his cycle helmet and it was discovered that he was subject to “multiple heavy blows” and in a “sustained, forceful attack.”

It is claimed that the victim managed to tell the police, the week before he died “Some yobbos did it”.

According go the prosecution, the gang’s motive was to do a ‘raise’, which is apparently the slang term for robbing someone for money.

After the attack, the gang, all except Liddy, went to McNamara’s house where his mother heard them talking. Bennett was heard bragging “Did you see his face? Did you see the way I was battering him?”

McNamara said “You were going mad man, I tried to get you off.” Bennett replied “I know, I was hyper. I was saying “I’m going to kill him, I’m going to kill him.”"

All four of the evil cowards were arrested on May 16th 2007 and trainers belonging to McNamara and Garland both had Mr Green’s blood on them.

McNamara was reported to have fallen to the floor sobbing when he was arrested and had to be helped by a policewoman. Bennett, McNamara and Garland, all deny murder but pleaded guilty to manslaugher and conspiracy to rob. Liddy denied murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. Bennett also admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Thankfully, a jury found all of them guilty of murder and they will all be sentenced next month.

Detective Chief Inspector John Giles said after the hearing “This was clearly a callous and pre-meditated crime which has left Stephen’s elderly mother and father, his brother Richard and other family members heartbroken.”

“Stephen was a hardworking, law abiding member of the community who will be sadly missed by all who knew him but I hope this result will mean his family can now begin to rebuild their lives.”

“These four people who would clearly target innocent members of the public to pay for drugs and alcohol and in this case Stephen was the unsuspecting person to fall in to their trap. The amount of violence used towards Stephen was unimaginable and the cycle helmet that Stephen wore that night bares the evidence of this.”

“During the investigation we have received help from some people who are very close to the offenders, and they in turn have undergone an extremely stressful time, but I would like to thank them for their assistance - I know it has been difficult for them.”

“In conclusion, this case shows how easy it is for young people to become involved in crime that is fuelled by drink and drugs and how their behaviour can spiral out of control. My message to parents and relatives who suspect a member of their family has become involved in this type of crime is come forward and speak to the police or to your local drug action group. We are here to help and can advise you on where to get help for those you love. You can do this completely confidentially so please take this action now before another life is lost and your child ends up in front of a jury.”

The mother that came forward and told the police what her son had done, should be proud of herself. That must have been such a hard decision for that poor woman to have had to make, but definately the right one.

Those evil thugs deserve to die for what they did to that poor, innocent man, they’re not fit to breath the same air as any normal human being.

Again, the cause is drink related, when is that going to stop being an excuse, nobody is forced to drink alcohol.