Teens Jailed Over 'Happy Slapping' Death

Two teenagers have been jailed for the manslaughter of an elderly man attacked in 'happy slapping' incident in south London.

Ekram Haque, 67, a retired care worker, was attacked after he left a mosque in Tooting, south London in August last year.

He struck his head on the ground after falling over, suffering irreparable brain damage, and died in hospital a week later. His three-year-old granddaughter was present during the attack, but was unhurt.

Leon Elcock, 16 and Hamza Lyzai, 15, both from Tooting, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault causing actual bodily harm at the Old Bailey. They were jailed for four-and-a-half years and three-and-a-half years respectively.

The court heard how Mr Haque's death was the culmination of a series of 'happy slapping' incidents, where attacks are recorded on mobile phones.

The footage had showed youths running off, laughing, after the attacks, and describing the attacks as 'Lane Gang Productions'.

The judge had lifted reporting restrictions allowing the teenagers to be named as a warning to others "who may be tempted to indulge in such appalling behaviour".

A third youth, aged 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also jailed for six months after admitting, along with Elcock, to actual bodily harm against an elderly couple.

Jasumati and Jushbhai Patel, both in their 70s, were punched and stamped on in their home after asking the boys not to sit on their wall.

All three teenagers also pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm to two other men, Atta-ul Hassan Mir and Imdad Bukari, who were attacked on the same day as Mr Haque as they left the mosque.

Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane from the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "These cowardly youths had carried out an indiscriminate spree of violence that defies belief. Their victims were the elderly and infirm or they were people who were attacked from behind with no warning.

"A number of these motiveless assaults were callously filmed by the teenagers on their mobile phones. These have been inappropriately deemed 'Happy Slapping'. This is not a term that I recognise - it is violence for the sake of violence and is a criminal act which will always be prosecuted.

"It is tragic and abhorrent that Ekram Haque, who had just left a place of worship, died in this way, injured so horribly in front of his three-year-old granddaughter in such a pointless and violent attack. I only hold contempt and disgust for their actions and hope that their victims can now feel a sense of justice."

(KMcA)