Teenagers convicted for murdering homeless man

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Communities and also in Legal

Three teenagers who beat a homeless man to death have been convicted for his murder.

The killers, two 14-year-olds and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, set upon Kevin Bennett at around 5.30am on August 17 last year.

The homeless 53-year-old was sleeping behind an Iceland supermarket on Walton Road in Liverpool when he was attacked, the BBC reported.

He suffered a collapsed lung and a broken ribcage during the assault.

Mr Bennett was discovered by supermarket staff in the morning and was taken to hospital.

However, he died six days later from organ failure after blood poisoning caused by an infection set in.

Linda Doran, 42, was also convicted alongside the teenage attackers for perverting the course of public justice by providing false alibis.

Psychiatric and psychological assessments of the boys were ordered to be carried out by the trial judge at Liverpool Crown Court, Recorder Clement Goldstone QC.

The guilty four will be sentenced after April 15.

Mr Bennett's cousin Angela Connerty, 49, said: "Kevin was a loving person who would do anything for anyone - nothing was ever trouble to him.

"We hope nobody else's family have to go through what we have gone through and we are now pleased we have got justice."