Mother sees her boy of 12 charged with murder at McDonald’s
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy charged with beating a father of four to death blew a kiss to his tearful mother as he was led from the dock in handcuffs yesterday.
The baby-faced schoolboy and three older teenagers appeared in court accused of kicking and punching Brad Moore, 43, to death outside a McDonald’s last Wednesday evening.
Eyewitnesses told how a gang of youths taunted Mr Moore – who had mental health problems – inside the fast food restaurant before attacking him outside.
He was rushed to hospital but died later that night as a result of severe injuries to his head and abdomen, police said.
The four boys charged with his murder – the 12year-old, two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old – showed little emotion as they made their first court appearance before Oldham magistrates yesterday. Flanked by his noticeably larger co-defendants, the youngest of the group kept his head bowed throughout the five-minute hearing.
With his voice not yet broken, the slight youngster spoke quietly to confirm his name, age and address. But as the four youths were led away in handcuffs, he glanced up at his sobbing mother in the public gallery and blew her a kiss.
The four defendants later appeared at Manchester Crown Court before Judge Patrick Field QC, who set a provisional trial date for January.
The mother of the 12-year-old ran up to the glass panel separating them and shouted: ‘Love you, son.’ He was remanded into local authority accommodation, while his co-accused were all remanded into youth detention custody.
Police were called shortly before 10.50pm last Wednesday after Mr Moore was left lying in a pool of blood outside the McDonald’s in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
Witnesses told how a gang of youths had been taunting him as he sat in the restaurant, calling him an alcoholic, before attacking him outside.
Eyewitness Keelie Maher, 29, said: ‘He had blood all over his face and arms. Two men were helping him. He gave the thumbs up and said: “I’m OK”.’
Mr Moore, who was described as a ‘lovely, gen- tle guy’, was said to have been on medication for depression and anxiety and was often seen in the centre of the market town with his dog. A heartbreaking note from two of his children was left at the scene of the attack. It read simply: ‘Dad, I will miss you, from Jack and Emma.’
On social media sites, the schoolboy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – says he supports Manchester United and lists children’s Christmas movie Elf as one of his favourite films.