Teenagers admit killing Gregory Fernandes in Fawley (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Teenagers admit killing Gregory Fernandes in Fawley
5:15pm Monday 23rd February 2009 in Search
THREE teenagers have this afternoon pleaded guilty to killing an Indian sailor during a yob attack in a Hampshire village.
Gregory Fernandes was literally scared to death, having collapsed moments after the race-hate attack which took place in Fawley in October 2007.
The 32-year-old merchant seaman had stepped ashore from the cargo ship he was working on , and had gone for a drink with friend Vinod Pithilnaviram when the trouble flared.
He was surrounded in the middle of Church Lane by the gang who threw punches and kicks until a good Samaritan intervened. A second attack took place further down the road as Mr Fernandes tried to escape.
At Gate 2, as Mr Fernandes tried to book in, he collapsed to the ground and died.
Chay Fields, 16, of Priest Croft Drive, Blackfield, who was just 14 at the time; Stephen Pritchard, 18, of Cathay Gardens, Dibden and Daniel Rogers, 18, of Falcon Fields, Fawley all pleaded guilty to manslaughter and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Pithilnaviram.
Rogers also pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder.
All three had pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and causing GBH with intent, which were accepted by the crown prosecution service.
Two youths, both aged 15 who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to their parts in the trouble on the night of Mr Fernandes's death. One boy admitted causing actual bodily harm on Mr Vinod while the other admitted inflicting GBH.
The case at Winchester Crown Court was adjourned for four weeks when all five defendants will be sentenced.
