In the early morning hours of October 30, 2004, David Morley, a 37-year-old male bar manager, was the victim of a brutal and unprovoked attack near London's Waterloo station. Morley and a friend were sitting on a bench when they were set upon by a group of teenagers. The assailants, who were engaged in a series of random attacks that night, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as 'happy slapping,' descended upon the two men with shocking violence.
The group, consisting of several youths, punched and kicked Morley and his friend. During the assault, one of the attackers, a teenage girl, was reported to have kicked Morley in the head 'like a football' as he lay on the ground. The attackers also stole a mobile phone from Morley's friend before continuing their spree of violence in the area, assaulting several other individuals. Emergency services were called, and Morley was transported to a nearby hospital.
Despite medical intervention, David Morley succumbed to his extensive injuries and was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed that he had suffered numerous injuries, including fractured ribs and a ruptured spleen, which led to a fatal hemorrhage. The severity of his injuries was likened by a pathologist to that of a car accident victim.
In the wake of the attack, an investigation was launched, leading to the arrest of several suspects. Four individuals were ultimately charged in connection with Morley's death. The defendants, Reece Sargeant, Darren Case, David Blenman, and a then-15-year-old girl named Chelsea O'Mahoney, stood trial for murder. The prosecution presented evidence of the group's violent rampage on the night of the attack, arguing that they were seeking violence for its own sake.
In December 2005, the jury found the four defendants not guilty of murder but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. They were also convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. In January 2006, Reece Sargeant, Darren Case, and David Blenman were each sentenced to 12 years in prison. Chelsea O'Mahoney received an 8-year custodial sentence. The judge lifted reporting restrictions on the identities of the juvenile defendants due to the severity of the case.
