Men are guilty of student killing

Sion Hardy suffered a brain haemorrhage after the attack

A jury has found two men guilty of killing a student who died following an assault in an underpass.

Simon Taylor, 20, from Wigan, and Kevin O'Dea, 22, of County Donegal, were convicted of the manslaughter of 24-year-old Sion Hardy.

Both men have been sentenced to seven years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.

Mr Hardy, from Bangor, Gwynedd was described as a "special, unique and happy person" by his family.

Society needs to be aware of the detrimental affects our streets can have on innocent victims and their families Hardy family statement

He was attacked following a night out in November 2007.

He had been socialising in the Nation nightclub in Liverpool with friends and was later attacked, he died after receiving a blow to the neck.

A student at Liverpool University's department of civic design, Mr Hardy suffered a brain haemorrhage and was pronounced dead at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

After 12 hours and 57 minutes deliberation, the jury of nine women and three men delivered their final verdict for O'Dea.

They had earlier found Taylor guilty of manslaughter.

Simon Taylor and Kevin O'Dea killed Sion Hardy

When the guilty verdict came back for O'Dea, he broke down in tears and his family and friends sobbed loudly in the public gallery.

The jury foreman also broke down in tears and there were shouts of "Yes" from the victim's family.

Before sentencing the duo, Judge Henry Globe QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, appealed for calm in court.

After the verdicts, a statement from Mr Hardy's family was read out on the court steps.

It read: "Sion was a special, unique and happy person and we feel honoured to have had him in our lives.

"He was adored by both his family and friends and his death has had a devastating affect on us all.

"Society needs to be aware of the detrimental affects our streets can have on innocent victims and their families.

"Sion was so positive and working towards a promising career.

"He had such a bright future ahead of him - that has all been taken away in a moment.

"This is some form of closure for us. The simple truth is that Sion is no longer with us.

"We will never forget what a beautiful person Sion was and he will always have a special place in our hearts."

Judge's direction

During the two-week court case, the prosecution claimed the defendants were responsible for his death but after one witness failed to identify Mr O'Dea as having attacked Mr Hardy, Judge Henry Globe QC directed the jury to find him not guilty of murder.

The prosecution claimed Taylor, O'Dea and two other men, Richard Faustino and Tom Canning, attacked Mr Hardy's friend Stephen Lunne following a night out and Mr Hardy became innocently caught up with it.

Mr Hardy "happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Tania Griffiths QC, prosecuting.

Mr Hardy died after being attacked in this underpass

The jury heard how Mr Hardy had only just met with Mr Lunne, who he knew from their school days in Bangor, when the attack began.

The prosecution said a feud between O'Dea, a student and part-time model, and Mr Lunne led to the violence and that the two defendants along with their two friends planned a revenge attack.

Taylor admitted to the court he hit his victim in the face three times and said this was because he was attacking a friend in an underpass.

In a prepared statement, he told police he had been defending Mr Canning, whom he claimed was being punched by Mr Hardy.

He also claimed Mr Hardy was punched "extremely hard to the head" by Mr Faustino.

Witnesses to the attack said they saw Mr Hardy getting punched and repeatedly kicked.

The jury was also told that Taylor, a student, had a conviction for attacking a police officer.

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