Jeering mob of children 'stoned father to death as he played cricket'

They surrounded a tennis court where Ernest Norton and his teenage son had set up a wicket and hurled bricks and debris in a "completely unprovoked attack".

Mr Norton, 67, collapsed in a pool of blood after being hit by a piece of rock and died from heart failure, the Old Bailey was told.

The gang, some as young as ten, then ran away and allegedly a witness heard one say, "Did you get him?" and others replying: "Yeah I think so."

Five boys, all aged 13 or under at the time of the onslaught last year, are accused of unlawfully killing Mr Norton, a retired engineering draughtsman. None can be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that the boys, all from Kent, were members of a gang called TNE - The New Estate - who had planned to take part in a "gang fight" earlier the same day.

Instead they went to the leisure centre in Erith, Kent, where Mr Norton and his 17-year-old son James were spending their Sunday afternoon playing cricket on the centre's tennis courts.

David Fisher QC, prosecuting, said the boys carried out a "completely unnecessary, pointless and random attack."

He added: "A group of about ten to 15 youths gathered by the fencing surrounding the courts and began shouting abuse at Ernest Norton and his son. These five defendants were part of that group.

"As the abuse worsened, they began throwing stones and pieces of wood.

"Ernest Norton was struck at least twice on the head by these missiles and one of the stones hit him on his left side of his face, causing a fracture to his cheekbone.

"He collapsed and suffered a heart attack. Nobody relishes the fact that these five boys are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the serious crime of manslaughter. But their youth is no defence.

"I expect they deeply regret the death of Ernest Norton and there is no doubt they did not intend that he should die. But it was their course of conduct, quite probably with others, that caused his death."

The attack happened on February 26 last year while Mr Norton's wife Linda was in the leisure centre using the gym.

He and his son went off to play cricket, entering the tennis courts through a gate and locking it behind them.

They set up the game and James started bowling while his father stood behind the stumps. Then James saw a group of up to 20 youths approaching.

"They started shouting insults, mostly saying James was a rubbish bowler", said Mr Fisher.

"To his father they were saying 'Go back to your old people's home'."

"While some of the boys left, five to seven began throwing stones, rocks and pieces of wood at the pair, with two attempting to climb the 9ft-high wire fence surrounding the courts."

When Mr Norton collapsed, his son ran to the leisure centre for help. A policeman and ambulance crews tried to revive Mr Norton, but he died at the scene.

One local woman saw a group of boys running away from the scene and heard one shout, "Oh no" and another exclaim, "He's dead."

Another witness heard one say "Did you get him?" and others replying '"Yeah, I think so."

A post-mortem found Mr Norton, who had a triple bypass operation in 1977 but was in good health, died as a result of heart disease alleged to have been brought on by the stress of the attack. He also left a 25-year-old daughter.

All the boys, who were each accompanied by a parent in the dock, are on bail. They deny manslaughter and violent disorder.

The trial continues.