Youth admits killing pensioner during riots

RICHARD MANNINGTON BOWES: The retired accountant was hit as he tried to put out a fire (PA)

A teenager yesterday admitted to killing a retired accountant by punching him as he tried to put out a fire in a rubbish bin during last summer's riots.

The 17-year-old youth, whose identity cannot be revealed because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 68-year-old Richard Mannington Bowes outside a shopping centre in Ealing, west London, where looters had broken into stores during the third night of disorder to hit the capital.

Mr Mannington Bowes was punched to the ground and struck his head as he fell, suffering serious brain injuries. He never regained consciousness and his life-support machine was switched off three days after the attack.

His killer, who has also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, had previously pleaded guilty to burgling four businesses on the night of the attack.

Appearing at Inner London Crown Court yesterday, the youth replied "guilty" to two charges, one of violent disorder and a second of manslaughter.

His mother has denied a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by concealing or destroying her son's clothes. Her son still faces a trial for murdering Mr Mannington Bowes, which will start in front of a jury today.