Two are guilty of 'banter' murder

Dean Evans died after his attackers stamped on his head

A 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth have been found guilty of kicking a man to death after he engaged one of them in "trivial banter".

Dean Evans, 25, of Pembroke, died of brain injuries in hospital two days after the attack as he walked home from a pub with his girlfriend.

Lee Mark Carter and the teenager had denied murder at Swansea Crown.

The youth hit Mr Evans to the ground and then he and Carter both stamped on his head, the court heard.

Carter will serve a minimum of 12 years in jail. The teenager, who cannot be named, a minimum of eight years.

While he lay helpless and defenceless you both kicked him to the face and head, I am satisfied, a number of times Judge Mr Justice Field

The verdicts were delivered after a trial in which the jury heard how Mr Evans and his girlfriend Carly Clark were walking to Mr Evans' home in Buttermilk Close, Pembroke, late on 12 August last year.

They were passed by the youth, who was on a bicycle. He was making slow progress and Mr Evans asked him if he wanted "a push".

Paul Thomas QC, prosecuting, said: "This led to an exchange of words as they made their way up the incline.

"Instead of riding off the juvenile decided to continue the verbal confrontation. It was nothing more than bickering. But then Lee Carter arrived in Devon Drive.

"It was to be a fateful, chance encounter," said Mr Thomas.

'Hurt pride'

"On seeing Lee Carter arrive the juvenile decided he wanted to fight Dean Evans. He escalated a trivial incident into a violent one."

When Carter arrived on the scene the youth, who knew Carter, hit Mr Evans on the head with a bag containing cans of lager.

Both attacked Mr Evans when he was on the ground, despite Miss Clark's screams for them to stop.

Mr Evans died two days later from brain injuries.

Judge Mr Justice Field, said: "You attacked Dean Evans for no other reason that a feeling of hurt pride over some trifling abuse against the juvenile. You (the juvenile) began the violence.

"Then, while he lay helpless and defenceless you both kicked him to the face and head, I am satisfied, a number of times."

The "appalling and wholly unjustified" attack was mounted in the presence of Mr Evans' girlfriend, he added.

Mr Justice Field said he accepted there had been "limited planning" of the attack and that their intention had been to cause serious injury but not death.

In a statement issued by South Wales Police, Mr Evans' family said they were "very pleased with the verdict.

"However nothing can make up for the tragic and premature loss of our loved one Dean.

"We'd like to thank all our family and friends for their unending support throughout our difficult time."