13/03/2002
Youth admits killing teenage friend
A 17-year-old youth from County Armagh has pleaded guilty at Newry Crown Court to beating a friend to death in a drunken incident almost a year ago.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had his changed plea of guilty to manslaughter accepted by the prosecution on the second day of his trial.
The accused had previously denied murdering his 15-year-old friend on April 1 last year.
A post-mortem examination revealed that some 50 injuries, mainly to the head and face, had been inflicted on the victim, suggestive of a sustained attack.
Sentence has been postponed pending a probation service pre-sentence report.
The youth was freed on continuing bail.
(AMcE)
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had his changed plea of guilty to manslaughter accepted by the prosecution on the second day of his trial.
The accused had previously denied murdering his 15-year-old friend on April 1 last year.
A post-mortem examination revealed that some 50 injuries, mainly to the head and face, had been inflicted on the victim, suggestive of a sustained attack.
Sentence has been postponed pending a probation service pre-sentence report.
The youth was freed on continuing bail.
(AMcE)
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