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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

Man battered to death in vile park attack 'devoted his life to others'

A horrifying attack on a man who devoted his life to others has caused anger and heart-break across Merseyside.

Dr Gary Jenkins, a consultant, was brutally beaten, kicked and punched to death in Cardiff's Bute Park in the early hours of July 20 last year.

The homophobic attack was carried out by two men and a teenager.

READ MORE: Dad-of-two murdered in homophobic park attack by 'cruel' gang of three

Earlier this week, a jury found three people including Jason Edwards, originally from Liverpool, guilty of murdering the 54-year-old.

ECHO readers have paid tribute to Dr Jenkins.

Ruth Parry said: "We must focus on the victim, what this man achieved in his life, his loving family and friends and perhaps most importantly, his right to choose the direction of his life."

Tracey Crawley Ellis said: "The poor man's family have to live with this every day for the rest of their lives."

Andy Loftus added: "I’m absolutely heartbroken, yet again an act of true evil. What a dreadfully sad world we are living in. RIP my Friend, God bless you and all your family and friends. Why oh why."

Audio of the horrendous attack, carried out by Edwards, 25, Lee Strickland, 36, and Dionne Timms-Williams, 17, included Dr Jenkins pleading for help and for his attackers to “leave me alone” but his cries went unheeded.

After 15 minutes of being savagely beaten by the group, Dr Jenkins was left for dead.

He was taken to hospital but died two weeks later on August 5.

Nandy Mel said: "Absolutely sickening, that poor man and his family."

Joanne Buxton wrote: "How bad, what a cruel world we live in."

CJ Al added: "This has made me feel angry, sad and sick to my stomach."

Stephanie Purser Brereton said: "A horrifying attack on an innocent man."

Another user wrote: "A man who devoted his life to helping others has it so cruelly and senselessly cut short."

Edwards, Strickland and Timms-Williams were arrested and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, robbery and assaulting a man who tried to intervene.

They all denied murder but were found guilty by a jury on Thursday following a trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court .

The trial heard Dr Jenkins had gone to Bute Park in order to have sexual encounters with other men but he was targeted by the group because of his sexuality and subjected to an unmerciful and sustained attack.

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