Men guilty of homophobic killing

Mr Kerr died after being repeatedly kicked in the head

Two men have admitted killing a council worker in a homophobic attack in a public park in Perth.

A 15-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to assaulting 51-year-old James Kerr in the South Inch park in April.

All three were originally charged with murder, but changed their pleas at the High Court in Perth. They will be sentenced on Tuesday.

David Meehan, aged 19, admitted murder, while 21-year-old Martin Soutar admitted culpable homicide.

The trio pled guilty on the second day of their trial.

Repeatedly kicked

Meehan and Soutar were detained in custody while the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted bail overnight.

Mr Kerr, who worked as a civic officer for Perth and Kinross Council, died in Dundee's Ninewells Hospital hours after being repeatedly kicked in the head.

Meehan, Soutar and the 15-year-old all admitted punching him on the face and knocking him to the ground.

Meehan and Soutar admitted kicking him numerous times on the head, with Meehan admitting landing the blows which amounted to murder.

Council officer

Soutar admitted committing culpable homicide and stealing his victim's lighter and a set of keys as he lay prone on the ground.

Mr Kerr had worked as an officer for Perth and Kinross Council for around three years prior to his death in April.

Colleagues said he made no secret of the fact that he was gay.