‘Despicable’ attack on gay man - Trio shouted ‘faggots’ during fatal Trafalgar Square assault on civil servant Ian Baynham, court told

Published: 23 April 2010
by DAVID ST GEORGE

A GAY civil servant out celebrating with a friend after landing a job in Whitehall was beaten to death in Trafalgar Square by two teenage girls and a man who shouted “f***ing faggots” as they attacked him. 

The Old Bailey heard this week how Ian Baynham, 62, was the victim of an unprovoked late-night assault outside South Africa House on September 25 last year.

The court was told how eyewitnesses were shocked by the viciousness of the violence during the incident. 

“One onlooker likened the level of violence to a scene from film A Clockwork Orange,” said Brian Altman, QC, prosecuting.

Mr Baynham, from Beckenham, south-east London, and his friend Philip Brown, 30, were on their way to a gay pub when they were confronted by verbal abuse from Ruby Thomas, said Mr Altman. Responding to the homophobic remarks, Mr Baynham slapped Ms Thomas before being punched to the ground by her companion, Joel Alexander, jurors were told.

As Mr Baynham  lay helpless and unconscious, Thomas and Rachel Burke stamped on his chest and kicked his head, the jury was told. Mr Brown attempted to intervene but was punched several times by Burke.

Mr Baynham suffered a fractured skull and brain damage. He died at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, on October 13 after doctors switched off his life support machine. He never regained consciousness. 

Mr Altman told the court: “The scene is Trafalgar Square at the very heart of London, home to the National Gallery, Nelson’s Column, the famous plinths, and late that evening, a scene of despicable violence.”

Thomas, 18, of Lichfield, Staffordshire, Burke, 18, of Three Oaks, East Sussex, and Alexander, 19 of Thornton Heath, deny charges of manslaughter and violent disorder. Burke further denies causing actual bodily harm to Mr Brown. 

The women were “fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol” and were earlier seen shouting at strangers, the court heard. As they passed another gay couple, who were holding hands, one suggested “Let’s do them”, it was alleged.

The case, expected to last four weeks, continues.