Teenage girls 'in gang who kicked elderly man to death'

Amie Bartholomew, 18, and a 16-year- old girl attacked the man after he had the "misfortune" to walk past them in a seaside park.

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Brian Kitching, 68, was repeatedly punched and kicked "like a football" in the drunken attack, which the court heard was carried out with Lewis Hoare, 18, and Paul Dewar, 25.

After leaving Mr Kitching for dead, the four allegedly walked to the beach where they tried to wash his blood from their hands and shoes.

Mr Kitching, who suffered fractured ribs and eye sockets, and bruising and bleeding of the brain, died six months after the attack "as a direct result" of his injuries.

Winchester Crown Court heard that the motiveless attack happened in the Rock Gardens in Southsea, Hampshire, in September 2005.

Prosecutor Anthony Donne QC told the jury that the 16-year- old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, Bartholomew and Dewar all denied murder, but Hoare, from Portsmouth, had admitted murder.

Mr Donne said the four defendants and Hoare's girlfriend met in Southknownsea and began drinking before midday on the day of the killing.

He said the men were drinking lager and the girls Lambrini wine. They walked towards the seafront and bought more alcohol.

On the way, the 16-year- old girl asked an Asian man for a cigarette and launched a tirade of foulmouthed and racist abuse when he said he did not smoke, and smashed a beer bottle on the man's parked car.

Mr Donne said that by the time the group got to the Rock Gardens they were "undoubtedly the worse for drink".

He added: "Dewar and Hoare were by now drinking whisky. Bartholomew and the 16-year-old had some as well. There was smoking of cannabis."

Dewar punched a man in the face as he walked past.

About 20 minutes later, at around 8.30pm, Mr Kitching, from Portsmouth, walked past and was allegedly set upon by Bartholomew.

Mr Donne said: "Hoare will say that he heard Bartholomew saying "you dirty paedophile" and saw her punch an old man.

"The man stumbled backwards and fell. There's no evidence that he was to Bartholomew or that he was a paedophile."

Mr Donne said that Hoare's girlfriend, who was not involved in the attack, told police she saw Bartholomew sit on Mr Kitching and continue punching him.

Mr Donne added: "She saw Dewar and Hoare kicking him in the face and head while he lay still on the ground.

"She described it as if they were kicking a football. Then the 16-yearold came over and kicked him in the head as well."

After the attack on Mr Kitching, Hoare and Dewar then launched an unprovoked attack on Alexander Percy, 48, who was walking along the promenade. Police were called and found the defendants close to the seafront.

All four had blood on their clothes which DNA tests showed was a match for Mr Kitching's, said Mr Donne. Tests on Hoare showed he had also taken amphetamines and tranquillisers.

Interviewed by police, the 16-yearold allegedly said: "I kicked him in the

****ing head." She allegedly added: "Yeah, it was me one of them, couldn't give a ****. I've got blood on me to prove it.

"That man ain't gone and died? I hope not, I will get done for murder. My mum's gonna go mad, she will kill me."

Dewar, from Taunton, Somerset, and Bartholomew and the 16-year-old girl, both from Portsmouth, deny murder. Dewar and Bartholomew also deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Dewar denies assaulting Mr Percy.

The trial continues.