Teenage boy admits killing stranger by tripping him up on the street

A teenage boy who tripped up a 62-year-old man on the street has admitted to killing him in court.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had run up to Jerald Netto, put his foot between his legs and swept him off his feet in Hanwell, west London, early on March 19.

Mr Netto tumbled forward and suffered a heart attack from the trauma of hitting the pavement, leading to his death. Police had been alerted to reports of a man assaulted in Boston Road shortly after 12.50am.

Officers and London Ambulance Service medics attended and Mr Netto was taken to hospital, where he died later that day. The defendant was arrested and charged with the murder of Mr Netto, from Southall.

On Thursday, the teenager pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter during a hearing at the Old Bailey. Prosecutor Louise Oakley said the victim’s relatives in court wanted time to “reflect” on the youth’s plea and to prepare a statement on the impact of Mr Netto’s death on them and their wider family.

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On the boy’s responsibility for what happened, Ms Oakley submitted that Mr Netto died “as a result of an unlawful act which involved an intention to cause harm or recklessness as to whether harm was caused”. Judge Rebecca Trowler KC said: “I am aware that the defendant has admitted responsibility for the physical act from the outset and so the only factor that has changed today in legal terms is causation has been accepted on his behalf and therefore plea has been entered.”

Judge Trowler ordered a pre-sentence report but warned the defendant and his family that they should prepare for a custodial sentence. She remanded him back into local authority accommodation with “stringent conditions” ahead of his sentencing on January 12.