In Oct 2007, Gregory Fernandes, 32, a seaman from Agonda, Goa was with his friend Pithilnaviram Vinod when they was pounced on by a gang aged between 14 and 17 in Fawley, Southampton, Hampshire, and beaten up in a racial attack. Gregory managed to escape but died from heart failure brought on by the attack. Five of the gang were arrested and the trial which began today was expected to last for four weeks. However, the prosecution accepted an admission of manslaughter from the accused and sentencing will follow later.
There is a feeling of outrage. I have received several messages from British sympathisers. One wrote: . I cannot believe that these scum bags have been allowed to plead guilty to a lighter sentence of manslaughter. I am so angry and upset.I was brought up to believe that the British Justice system was the best in the world and should be respected. I am ashamed. The western world could learn a lot from Goan family values . Another wrote: I am a 68 year old Englishwoman . I feel great shame that a good and decent young man could be killed so brutally and cruelly by a gang of teenagers in what I knew as a quiet and trouble free part of England. I would like to send a financial contribution as I understand that Gregory was the family's breadwinner. For a BBC video clip of the family's grief in Goa. 2m. 35s. see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7906865.stm Some Press Reports: Youth gang boasted: 'let's beat up a Paki'. 23 Feb: Daily Mail. 448 words. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153422/Youth-gang-literally-scared- Indian-sailor-death-boasting-lets-beat-Paki.html Teenagers admit killing Gregory Fernandes 23 Feb: Southern Daily Echo (UK). Gregory Fernandes was surrounded by the gang who threw punches and kicks until a good Samaritan intervened. A second attack took place further down the road as Mr Fernandes tried to escape. 308 words. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4148617.Teenagers_admit_killing_sailor_in_yo b_attack/ Sailor killed in 'racist attack' 23 Feb: BBC. Three teenagers have pleaded guilty to killing Gregory Fernandes in a "racially motivated" attack after he arrived on a ship near Southampton. They had faced a murder charge, which they had denied, and the prosecution accepted the lesser count. Floriano Fernandes, the sailor's father, told the BBC: "Even I've been in England. it wasn't like this before. I felt very safe, but now it seems to be very unsafe place, especially for Indians. 558 words + photographs of three of the accused and Gregory's family in Goa. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7906444.stm Fir links to more Press Reports see http://www.google.co.uk/news?sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB278GB278&; hl=en&scoring=n&q=%22Gregory+Fernandes%22+Fawley&btnG=Search For the Goan Association (UK) Gregory Fernandes Memorial Fund Appeal http://www.goauk.com/artman/publish/article_668.shtml If you have problems accessing any of the links, go to http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/ Eddie Fernandes
