Liverpool city centre student killing: Family hit out

May 9 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THE grieving family of an “innocent” Liverpool University student killed in a revenge attack have warned of the devastation caused by street violence.

The younger sister of Sion Hardy spoke out after two men were found guilty of killing him in a Liverpool city centre underpass.

Sara Hardy’s comments came after the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe, QC, said Mr Hardy’s death had “diminished the reputation of this city as a safe place for students”.

The judge spoke of his fears over the rise in drink-fuelled violence as he jailed JMU students Kevin O’Dea and Simon Taylor for seven years each.

Both men were cleared of the murder of civic design student Mr Hardy, of Bangor, North Wales, but found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

The nine women and three men first found Taylor, 22, formerly of Everton Brow, guilty unanimously, but deliberated for a further two hours on O’Dea, 22, of County Donegal.

Manchester United matchday host and model O’Dea broke down as the majority verdict was announced after nearly 13 hours.

While many members of his family and the jury forewoman began to weep, Mr Hardy’s mother, Sharon, shouted: “Yes”.

Talented sportsman O’Dea cried and held his head in his hands throughout sentencing, while Taylor shook his head and looked close to tears.

The verdict follows an emotional three-week trial in front of a packed public gallery, during which the jury was told Mr Hardy was the innocent victim of a revenge attack after bumping into a childhood friend.

Tania Griffiths, prosecuting, said seeing Stephen Lunn was “a chance meeting that would cost him his life”.

As the two men walked into Tunnage Square passageway, between Duke Street and Parr Street, at 2.30am on November 15, they were “jumped” by a group of four men – O’Dea, Taylor, Richard Faustino and Thomas Canning. The foursome were targeting Mr Lunn after a minor dispute earlier that night in the Nation club.

Judge Globe said: “For some reason, the only explanation being male stubbornness and an excess of alcohol, the irritation inside (the club) exploded into group violence outside.”

Mr Hardy suffered a fatal blow to the head and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Taylor, who has two previous convictions for assaulting a police officer, admitted punching Mr Hardy three times, but claimed he was defending a friend.

O’Dea denied being involved in any violence, but was identified as “central” to the case after previously clashing with Mr Lunn.

Judge Globe said: “It is a sad fact of society today that the incidence of violence is frequently fuelled by an excess of alcohol.

“It is a worrying feature for all sections of the public, none more so than the parents of students who go away from home to study.”