Four convicted of barman's killing

LONDON - A 15-year-old girl and three men were found guilty of the manslaughter of a barman in London during a spree of "random violence" which they filmed on their mobile phones.

The four killed David Morley, 37, in October 2004 on the South Bank in London, a popular area of theatres, restaurants and nightspots near the River Thames.

The jury heard that Morley, who had survived the 1999 nail bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in London's Soho, had been punched and stamped to death by the gang who had gone out to attack strangers for fun.

The pathologist's report said Morley's injuries were similar to those of someone who had fallen from a great height.

The gang, aged between 15 and 21, attacked eight different victims in five separate "random and indiscriminate" attacks on the evening of Morley's death.

Of the gang, Darren Case, 18, Reece Sergeant, 21, together with a 17-year old boy and the 15-year old girl who cannot be named because of their age, were convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police said the gang had been caught on CCTV, using mobile phones to video their attacks although no photos from the phones had ever been retrieved.

Two other people were cleared of all charges. All six defendants had been charged with murder but each was cleared of that charge.

"This case is as depressing as it is alarming", said prosecutor Richard Horwell at the Old Bailey. "The lives of the defendants held such little interest that they set upon a plan to use violence for its own sake -- random, indiscriminate violence for what can only have been pleasure."

A friend of Morley's, who had also been attacked, told the court how the girl had kicked Morley in the head "like you would kick a football".

Senior investigating officer Nick Scola said: "the attacks were carried out so they could be filmed on mobile phones and later played for the attackers' pleasure -- without thought or regard for the injuries and consequences for their victims."

The four will be sentenced on January 23, next year.

- REUTERS