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New arrest over man kicked to death in Halloween hat row
Justin Davenport and Neil Millard3 Nov 2009
Detectives investigating the killing of IT expert Ben Gardner in a row over his girlfriend's Halloween hat have made a new arrest.
Police seized a 20-year-old man this morning in the hunt for the drunken gang who beat Mr Gardner, 30, to death in Sutton. The arrest is the ninth so far.
Two men, aged 20, are still being questioned and two have been bailed. Four people, including two women, have been released.
Friends of Mr Gardner's girlfriend, Allanna Devine, 28, said she was “devastated and appalled” by the killing.
Mr Gardner, pictured, who worked for Legal & General, was punched and kicked in the head after he tried to retrieve her witch's hat after it was grabbed by one of the gang.
He died later in hospital. Miss Devine, who he had only been with for three weeks, was hit in the face in Sunday's attack.
Today Gordon Brown spoke of his shock and said he hoped the courts would impose “stiff” sentences when the killers are brought to justice.
“I want to send a clear message that this kind of
violence cannot be tolerated. We are determined that the policing necessary to combat it is available,” he said.
