Killers who launched sickening attack on man in park are jailed for life
KILLERS who unleashed a ‘brutal and senseless’ attack on a vulnerable dad-of-five in broad daylight have been locked up for life.
Steven Bennett and Suni Singh Gill ‘relentlessly’ kicked their victim Anthony Patrick Bird to the head while children as young as six watched in horror at a Black Country park.
The 50-year-old died of his horrific injuries almost three weeks after the cruel attack in Victoria Park, Tipton, on July 26 last year.
Bennett, 37, of Bevan Road, and Gill, 33, of Shore Road, both Tipton, each denied murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
But jurors convicted the pair of murdering Mr Bird after deliberating for four hours and 13 minutes.
The pair were jailed for life and must spend a minimum of 16 years and 313 days behind bars.
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers QC said the killers – who had been drinking vodka in the park before beginning their onslaught – were motivated by ‘pure anger’.
He said: “This was, in any view, a brutal and senseless attack, including re-lentless kicking, and kicking with extreme force aimed to the head of Mr Bird, who was then aged 50 and clearly was a vulnerable individual, being a chronic alcoholic, who had fallen on hard times and that must have been all too obvious to you. It
was a fine morning, families with young children enjoying Victoria Park.
“What happened was witnessed by children, for example, a six-year-old child, and clearly, that must have been deeply distressing. That is a most aggravating factor.”
The judge added: “I’m quite satisfied that both defendants are equally culpable.
“Both defendants were equally responsible for the relentless beating, kicking, aimed at the head.”
Mr Bird was rushed to hospital following the vicious attack but tragically died of blunt force trauma almost
three weeks later on August 12.
The grandfather had suffered brain damage, a fractured cheek and fractured jawbone during the savage attack.
The killers launched their assault after wrongly accusing Mr Bird of being a paedophile and taking pictures of children in the park, their trial was told.
But Judge Chambers rejected the claims and said: “I’m quite satisfied that Mr Bird was not a paedophile.”
He added: “The victim was obviously vulnerable. Clearly, he was a vulnerable alcoholic. I suspect one would only have to look at him to see.”
Tanya McGough, one of Mr Bird’s five children, said in a statement her loving dad’s death has had a ‘devastating impact’ on her family.
She recalled her dad dying in her arms and painfully having to break the tragic news to her four siblings. Ms McGough added: “As a family, we feel we can’t move on with the happy memories of dad.
“We will never understand why anyone would want to take our dad’s life in such a brutal manner.”
Jo Sidhu, defending Bennett, said he wanted to apologise to Mr Bird’s family for their tragic loss. Giles Cockings, defending Gill, said the murderer was an ‘unsettled man’ who had ‘no intention to kill’.