Three convicted of Westbourne manslaughter

Three teenagers from Poole have been convicted of manslaughter after 41-year-old homeless man, Ralph Millward, was found dead on the pavement outside the Marks & Spencer store on Seamoor Road in Westbourne, Bournemouth in May last year.

The three teenagers are due to be sentenced on 30 June 2010.

The verdicts against 15-year-old Jimmy Ayres, 16-year-old Warren Crago and 17-year-old Craig Real were given on 21 May 2010, after a six-week trial at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire.

Detective Inspector Jez Noyce of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “This was a despicable crime against a defenceless and homeless man.

“The three young defendants, today found guilty of manslaughter after a six-week trial, showed such ruthless disregard for 41-year-old Ralph Millward who was a well-known and liked member of the Westbourne community.

“This crime had a significant impact on the Westbourne community and I would like to express my gratitude for the assistance and support received from local residents and traders throughout the investigation.

“Ralph’s killers were arrested following a report of criminal damage to cars in the Westbourne area from a member of the public.

“CCTV footage showing the three offenders walking away from where Ralph was killed played a crucial role in bringing them to justice.

“Our thoughts go out to Ralph’s family and friends, particularly among the homeless community in Westbourne.

“We are committed to tackling violent crime of this nature which is extremely rare in Dorset.”

A spokesperson from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Today, (21 May) the jury in this horrific case returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter for each of the defendants and we are satisfied that this reflects the three youths involved unlawfully killed Ralph Millward.

“The three youths were originally charged with the murder of Mr Millward but have now been convicted of manslaughter.

“There is a very fine line between these two offences which rests on the intention of the defendant’s behaviour; in this case, the jury were unable to convict the youths for murder but their guilty verdict of manslaughter still ensures the defendants are held accountable for the unlawful taking of Mr Millward’s life.

“The prosecution of this case, from the investigation, preparation to prosecution in court, involved a huge amount of hard work from both Dorset Police and Dorset Crown Prosecution Service which has ultimately led to justice for Ralph.”