Dead student honoured with degree

The university has paid tribute to Sion Hardy

A student who died after an incident on a night out in Liverpool is to be given a posthumous degree.

Sion Hardy, 24, from Bangor, north Wales died after an alleged fight in Liverpool city centre last November.

Mr Hardy was studying planning and civic design at the University of Liverpool which says his name will be included at the 2008 degree ceremony.

Two men have been charged with the student's murder and are expected to stand trial in April.

Simon Taylor, 20, from Everton Brow, Everton but originally from Wigan, and Keith O'Dea, 22, from Wingate Road, Aigburth, were remanded to appear in court again in March when they appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in November.

It is alleged the men were involved in a fight after leaving the Medication student night held at the Nation club in the city's Wolstenholme Square.

Degree certificate

Mr Hardy died later in hospital of a brain haemorrhage.

The university said it has still to finalise with the student's family how they will receive his degree certificate.

His father Robin is the brother of well-known north Wales estate agent Dafydd Hardy and TV presenter John Hardy.

After he died Mr Hardy's family said he was an "exuberant" young man who "lit up their lives".

The university has also paid tribute.

"Sion was well-known and well-liked and had a close group of friends within the Department of Civic Design.

"He was a very able student who would have gone on to a promising career in planning," a university statement said after his death.

The institution said it was not the first time they have awarded a posthumous degree.