Two teenage women face life sentences in Britain today after being found guilty of murdering a Northern Ireland man.
Maxine Breakspear (19) and Rochelle Etherington (18) savagely attacked 42-year-old Mr James Dalrymple. The pair claimed he made an indecent proposal during a party in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
Mr Dalrymple was kicked and punched and a video recorder smashed twice on to his head. As he lay dying from brain damage, his attackers returned to the blood-spattered flat to steal his wallet and mobile phone, the Old Bailey in London was told.
The decorator's body was found the following day. He had 50 injuries to his face, neck and body. He had a print of a trainer shoe on his face which had also been cut with a screwdriver.
The flat, which had been a gathering point for local youngsters, had been ransacked, said Mr Jonathan Turner QC, prosecuting.
"Maxine Breakspear said he had made an indecent suggestion to her," Mr Turner said. One of her friends had complained that he had tried to kiss her and said he wanted to make love to her, he added.
The court was told that a fight started after Mr Dalrymple attacked an older woman at the flat.
The teenagers and two younger girls joined in to help the woman. But Mr Turner said Breakspear and Etherington continued attacking Mr Dalrymple and were seen to smash the video recorder on his head.
Breakspear and Etherington, both of Walton-on-Thames, had tried to blame each other for the attack in January when arrested.
They denied murder but were found guilty by a jury. The Recorder of London Judge Peter Beaumont remanded them in custody for six weeks for pre-sentence reports to help determine a minimum term to be serviced.
PA