Murder inquiry launched into body on fire

Nov 8 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

A MURDER investigation was launched last night into the death of a man whose charred body was found in the dying embers of an official YMCA bonfire.

Detectives confirmed they are also investigating whether Stephen Croft, 34, was the victim of a savage “happy slapping” attack, but said at this stage they have no evidence to support this speculation.

Wirral’s Operational Superintendent Graham Yip, who is leading the investigation, said officers were visiting local schools, community centres and liaising with community leaders in a bid to trace any mobile phone footage of the attack.

He also confirmed that three youths, aged 13, 17 and 19, who have been arrested on suspicion of murder, were all from the Woodlands/Borough Road area of Birkenhead and knew each other.

Last night, as an extension to keep the 13-year-old in police custody was granted by magistrates, Mr Croft’s mother condemned her son’s attackers as “pure evil.”

Youth worker Patricia Croft was celebrating her 53rd birthday when police arrived at her office to deliver the news that her son had been killed.

Mr Croft’s blackened remains were discovered in the early hours of Tuesday morning and Mrs Croft said police had told her that her son’s head injuries were so severe that his face was barely recognisable.

Speaking from her home, near the crime scene in Birkenhead, the mother-of-two spoke about her son’s “happy go lucky character.”

She said: “I’m completely devastated.

“Stephen was a great lad who always kept a positive outlook on life.

“He loved his family and friends, was involved in the local football community and was well liked around here.

“He’ll be sorely missed.

“To be told your son has been killed must be every mother’s worst nightmare and yesterday it came true on my birthday.

“Hearing the horrific details of how my son was so cruelly beaten and callously tossed on to the bonfire was too hard to bear.

“But to be told that the savage thugs behind his death recorded it on their mobile phones sickened my stomach. It is pure evil.

“I can’t even bury my beautiful son in an open coffin because of the extent of his injuries.

“I hope the people who did this rot in hell.”

Residents said Mr Croft had been attacked by youths who re-started the bonfire after the event on spare ground near the YMCA in Whetstone Lane, Birkenhead.

Stephen Croft Snr, 54, an Age Concern worker, revealed the town had been plagued with yobbish violence, and accused the Government of ignoring the problem.

He said: “The Government goes on about how our communities are being ruined by violent youths yet they do nothing about it.

“There’s absolutely nothing to do round here for the kids to keep them out of trouble.

“It’s no wonder that they turn to gangs and crime to feel like they belong to something.

“But my son’s life has been taken by these thugs and there’s nothing I can do. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Superintendent Yip said Mr Croft had suffered severe burns and the post mortem was therefore expected to be complex.

However, head injuries he sustained indicated he may have been subjected to some kind of assault before his death.

He said: “We are aware of the rumours that are around that Mr Croft was assaulted prior to his death and that this incident was filmed.

“However, I would like to state that there is no information currently in the police major incident room to show that it was filmed.

“If this did happen, we need to know and locate the footage as this will be pivotal to the case.

“If it didn’t, we also need to know. We do not want to waste police time and resources on Chinese whispers.” He added that detectives were also keen to trace a woman who was seen outside Yummies Kebab Shop, in Oxton Road, Birkenhead, at 1am on Tuesday.

He added: “This lady was startled by a youth who approached her outside the kebab shop.

“We need her desperately to come forward. We believe she may well hold vital information about what happened.”

ANYONE with information is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or detectives in Birkenhead on 0151 777 2265.

carolineinnes