TWO men on a funeral wake kicked a father of seven to death outside a pub in Accrington, a jury was told.

Steven Taylor, 24, of Aitken Street, and Brandon Hayhurst, 23, of Whalley Road, both Accrington, deny murdering Ray Hampson, 39, of Slaidburn Drive, Accrington, outside the Bees Knees pub on December 13, 1997.

Charles Garside QC, prosecuting, told a jury at Preston Crown Court both men beat and kicked Mr Hampson to death while he was on the ground and "no longer posed a danger to anybody".

He said the two came out of the Bees Knees pub and attacked Mr Hampson, a fork-lift truck driver and part-time doorman, who was holding a bottle and challenging one of their friends to a fight.

Mr Garside said: "Taylor led the assault but he was joined by Hayhurst. One of the other people they were drinking with, a man called Derek Yates, had fallen asleep.

"Mr Yates was ejected from the pub and became involved in a scuffle with Mr Hampson, who punched him to the floor.

"Another man, Patrick Smith, intervened, and Mr Hampson began to chase him. Mr Hampson was holding a bottle and challenging him to a fight. "He never caught up with Mr Smith because some people including the two defendants came out of the pub. The first person to reach Mr Hampson was Taylor. He knocked Mr Hampson to the floor and began to kick him.

"Taylor was joined by Hayhurst and the two of them kicked Mr Hampson as he lay on the ground."

Mr Garside said both men were wearing boots which were obviously likely to cause serious injury.

"Eventually other people intervened. As Taylor left the scene, he lashed out one last time at Mr Hampson, causing a noise which other people noticed.

"To his credit, Hayhurst stayed at the scene and tried to give first aid to Mr Hampson. However it was too late", he said.

Mr Garside told the court that earlier that day both defendants had been at a funeral. He said both had "a great deal" to drink and Taylor had also taken amphetamines.

After the incident, Hayhurst returned to Mr Yates' house where he met a number of people including Taylor, who confirmed that he been involved in the attack, said Mr Garside. Mr Garside told the jury that marks found on Mr Hampson's forehead matched the pattern of a pair of corduroy trousers which Taylor was wearing. Hayhurst had the victim's blood on his boots and jeans, but that blood could have got there while he was giving Mr Hampson first aid, he said.

Taylor told police he had acted to protect his friend but denied kicking Mr Hampson. But Mr Garside said: "What Taylor did went way beyond anything that could have been done to protect his friend. He joined in somebody else's fight and carried on beating and kicking Mr Hampson when he no longer posed a danger to anybody."

Hayhurst also denied being involved in any fighting and said all he had done was try to help the victim.

Mr Garside said the two had joined in a quarrel which was not theirs, and nothing was done or said to them which could have caused them to lose their self-control.

He said Mr Hampson suffered multiple injuries followed by a brain haemorrhage before he died. The head injuries and fractured ribs Mr Hampson suffered showed the degree of force used, he added.

(Proceeding)

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