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HEADLINES:
 Ian Baynham
Dead: Ian Baynham

Teenagers are held over gay hate murder

Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent
16.10.09

Three teenagers - including two girls - were arrested this morning over the gay hate murder of a civil servant in Trafalgar Square.

Ian Baynham, 62, from Beckenham, suffered severe brain damage when he was punched and kicked to the ground after he confronted a girl who was shouting homophobic abuse.

Three youths, including two blonde girls, attacked him as he walked outside the South Africa High Commission.

An 18-year-old man and two 17-year-old girls were arrested at their homes in south-east London after a tip-off.They were being interviewed at separate police stations.

Mr Baynham died this week when his family agreed to switch off his life support machine.

He was attacked more than two weeks ago on a night out with a friend.

The civil servant, who had just started a new job at the UK Border Agency, was knocked to the ground by a single punch by a dark-skinned youth after first scuffling with the girl who had shouted abuse at him.

The friend managed to grab one of the girls at the time, but she managed to get away when passers-by intervened - thinking that he was assaulting her.

Police sources described the arrests this morning as "significant".


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