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Homeless Man Murdered By Teenagers For Dare

Homeless Man Murdered By Teenagers For Dare

Three teenagers who beat a homeless man to death following a dare have been convicted of murder.

The boys - two aged 14 and a 17-year-old who cannot be named because of their ages - attacked Kevin Bennett, 53, as he slept rough outside a supermarket in Liverpool.

During their trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the jury was told the 17-year-old had goaded one of the 14-year-olds by saying: "I bet you haven't got it in you to do him in."

The court heard the younger boy later told his friend: "I started kicking him, I booted him and now he's dead."

The second 14-year-old stood look-out as the assault took place, the prosecution said.

Mr Bennett died in hospital six days after the beating in the early hours of August 17 last year.

The three boys, who had denied murder, were convicted by a unanimous jury following a four-week trial and 13 hours of deliberations.

The first 14-year-old closed his eyes and put his forehead against the glass dock as the verdicts were delivered while the two other boys showed no emotion.

In the public gallery, members of Mr Bennett's family sobbed.

The boys shared the dock with Linda Doran, 42, of Teulon Close, Liverpool, who was convicted of perverting the course of public justice by providing false alibis for two defendants.

All four were remanded in custody for sentencing in April.

Trial judge, Recorder Clement Goldstone QC, ordered psychiatric and psychological assessments of the boys to be carried out by a expert adolescent psychiatrist.