Statement regarding the Death of Gavin Waterhouse

13/02/2008

Two male defendants aged 19 and 17 who brutally attacked Gavin Waterhouse in the Keighley area on the 23rd September 2007 pleaded guilty to unlawful act manslaughter. A third defendant a girl aged 15 has today entered a guilty plea to aiding and abetting.

Judith Naylor, Crown Advocate and junior counsel in this case made a landmark decision when she advised that the female defendant be charged for video recording the attack which led to the death of Gavin Waterhouse on a mobile phone.

On the day in question, the third defendant was handed a mobile phone by one of the attackers and was told to "video this". She then approached Mr.  Waterhouse, asked him for some money, and then video recorded the attack upon him which followed.

Prosecution witnesses state they saw and heard the attackers boasting about what they had just done, saying it was not the first time that they had attacked Mr. Waterhouse, and sharing the video footage of the incident with friends after the attack.

Judith Naylor, of CPS West Yorkshire said:

"It is believed that this is the first time a suspect in England and Wales has been successfully prosecuted for aiding and abetting murder or manslaughter, for the filming of an inaptly called, 'happy slapping' incident.

"We have seen and heard of many instances in recent months and years, where youths have been encouraged by their peers to attack innocent people, without words ever having been used.

"The message is this, if you stand by and watch your friends committing brutal crimes, and video record their acts for yours or for others amusement, your actions will not be ignored by the law enforcement agencies, and prosecution may follow.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The defendants will be sentenced at a later date which is yet to be confirmed.