Two teenagers who kicked and stamped to death a gay civil servant during a drink-fuelled attack were jailed for a total of 13 years for manslaughter today, British police said.
In a statement, police said the court had heard how former public schoolgirl Ruby Thomas (19) had hurled homophobic abuse at Ian Baynham (62) during the assault in London's Trafalgar Square in September 2009.
Mr Baynham died 18 days later in hospital. Police found his blood smeared on Thomas's handbag and the ballet pumps she was wearing when she kicked him.
Thomas, of Penge, received seven years in a Young Offenders' Institute. Her friend Joel Alexander (20), of Thornton Heath in south London, received six years.
Police said that during the altercation Alexander had punched Mr Baynham to the ground.
"Two teenage girls were then seen to stamp on and kick Ian's head and chest as he lay on the pavement severely bleeding from a serious head injury, which had caused him to start fitting," they said in a statement.
A third defendant, Rachael Burke (18) of Upper Norwood, southeast London, was jailed for two years after being found guilty at a previous trial of affray.
Reuters