Derek Whyteside murder – Boy, 16, battered devoted stepdad to death with cricket bat as he looked for his kids’ stolen bikes
The unnamed teenager will now face a mandatory life sentence after being convicted of the killing at Stafford Crown Court
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who killed a devoted stepdad by smashing him on the back of the head with a cricket bat has been found guilty of murder.
Derek Whyteside, 42, was given "no chance" after the teenager "crept up from behind" and attacked him in broad daylight less than a mile from his home in Telford, Shropshire on June 18.
A court heard he was attacked when he went looking to find the people responsible for stealing two bicycles from the children of his partner Michelle Beddall.
During a confrontation, the teen approached Whyteside from behind and smacked him round the back of the head with a child-sized cricket bat.
Whyteside suffered a skull fracture and collapsed to the ground - where brothers William and Gareth Owens, 40 and 39, ran over and stamped on him.
Witnesses said the boy, who had taken an exam at school that morning, shouted that he had "killed him" as Whyteside lay motionless in the road.
He was rushed to hospital but died two days later on June 20.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of murder following a seven day trial at Stafford Crown Court.
There were shouts and abuse from a man in the public gallery as the verdict was read out while the shocked youth put his head in his hands.
He was remanded in custody and told by a judge he faces a mandatory life sentence next month.
The Owens brothers pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to affray.
Prosecutor Kevin Hegarty told the court: "Mr Whyteside was looking for two stolen bicycles and also he was looking for those who were responsible for stealing them.
"He was struck across the back of the head with a cricket bat.
"The impact fractured his skull. The fracture extended into his right eye socket.
"Before he could take another step he collapsed to the ground.
"He then cracked the back of his head on the ground, which caused a further serious fracture - and in turn, damage to his brain.
"He died two days later.
"[The person in the dock] is the young man who stuck the blow with the bat.
";As you will hear, he raised the bat to head height to strike the blow.
"It's described in the evidence as a full swing. Bang.
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"When he did that he intended at the very least to do really serious harm to Mr Whyteside.
"He did so from behind Mr Whyteside.
"He gave Mr Whyteside no chance to take any action to defend himself or to get away. No chance at all."
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