Life sentences for racist murder

| Tuesday, 25 January 2005 | Click here for original article

Two men found guilty of murder after beating a Sri Lankan man to death in a race attack have been jailed for life.

James Rossiter, 22, of Laudon Park, and Tony Pile, 19, of Bailey's Field, both from Ashford, will each serve at least 25 years in jail, the judge said.

The pair were found guilty on Tuesday after a two-week trial.

Judge Andrew Patience, at Maidstone Crown Court, said: "This was a brutal, vicious and unprovoked attack which was clearly racially motivated."

'Kicked like football'

Bapishankar Kathirgamanathan was with a friend on a footbridge in Ashford when the attack happened on 22 April 2004.

The court heard Rossiter and Pile had drunk eight to 10 pints each in the nearby Swan pub at lunchtime and were in an "aggressive" state of mind.

Witnesses said they heard the men swear and verbally racially abuse the Sri Lankan chef, known as Sebastian, and his friend.

Workers in a nearby office block and passers-by saw what was happening.

One witness described seeing his head kicked "like a football".

The judge said: "They punched Sebastian in the head before kicking him to the ground, and not content with that they continued to kick him in the body and around the head until he had stopped moving.

"They then stamped on his head."

Bulldog tattoo

The 24-year-old was taken to hospital after the attack but died two weeks later.

The court heard Rossiter, a scaffolder, had a number of tattoos, including a bulldog marked "England", and a "Made in England" sign around his navel - the attack happened the day before St George's Day.

Both defendants admitted being involved in the attack when interviewed by police, but claimed Sebastian had only been struck a few times.

Rossiter said he had not kicked him "as hard as if you were scoring a goal for England".

After the verdict, Det Ch Insp Anne Brittain, of Kent Police, said: "This was a senseless, racially motivated attack that resulted in the loss of a young man's life.

"I am pleased with the life sentences as it sends out a clear message that perpetrators of hate crimes will always be rigorously pursued."