Staffordshire teenager stands trial

A Staffordshire teenager was a member of a gang who kicked a gay man to death in London's Trafalgar Square - a jury has heard.

Ruby Thomas, aged 18, is standing trial for manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Witnesses likened the shocking killing of 62-year-old Ian Baynham to a scene from A Clockwork Orange, the court was told.

Thomas and Rachel Burke stamped on Mr Baynham's chest and kicked him in the head after Joel Alexander punched him to the ground, said Brian Altman prosecuting.

Mr Baynham, was confronted by Thomas, of Pass Avenue, Whittington, near Lichfield, and Burke outside South Africa House after they had been drinking. He died from a brain injury 18 days after being attacked on September 25 last year.

The 62-year-old, who was openly gay, and friend Philip Brown and were subjected to homophobic taunts, it was alleged.

After a confrontation, Alexander punched Mr Baynham to the ground, where the two females kicked and stamped on him "like a scene from Clockwork Orange," Mr Altman said.

Mr Altman added a confrontation between Thomas and the victim escalated when he slapped her friend Burke. Alexander then felled Mr Baynham with such force that he hit the back of his head on the pavement and became unconscious, he said.

He added: "That did not suffice. There is evidence that the female defendants then began putting the boot into Mr Baynham, who was still prone on his back, clearly unconscious and in distress."

Mr Altman said Burke repeatedly punched Mr Brown in the face when he tried to stop her running into an underground station nearby.

Rachel Alexander, aged 18, of Thornton Heath, south London, Burke, 19 of Three Oaks, East Sussex, and Thomas, of Pass Avenue, Whittington, deny manslaughter.