A teenager who joined in a ‘disgraceful’ fight in

A teenager who joined in a ‘disgraceful’ fight in which a
gifted young languages student was savagely beaten to death was
locked up for two-and-a-half years today Tuesday.

Dean Monaghan, 19, said he never laid a finger on murder
victim Mr Patrick French, 22, but instead tackled the dead
man’s colleague, Mr Damien Chapman.

Mr Chapman, who did not provoke the clash and did not fight
back, was brutally kicked in the head.

The wound caused by
Monaghan required seven stitches.

Monaghan, an electrical apprentice of Kinghtswood Crescent,
New Malden, Surrey, was cleared of murdering Mr French, 22,
whose family are from Lewes, Sussex.

He was convicted of assault and violent disorder.

His friends Scott Steer, 19, a plumber of Aquila Close,
Leatherhead; and Mark Day, 20, a builder of Barrister Gardens,
Camberley, both in Surrey, were caged for life last week for the
slaying.

Judge James Rant QC told Monaghan: ‘This was a disgraceful
incident.

Two men were attacked for no reason and who did not
want to fight.

‘This is the kind of casual violence that is all to common
and young men like you should know that the courts will not
tolerate this kind of public violence.

‘
The court was told the fight erupted in the early hours of
August 1 last year as revellers milled around a burger van in
Kingston market square, Surrey.

Witnesses said Day took offence at Mr French simply because
he was speaking French in a loud voice to an au pair and told
him to ‘go back to your own country’.

He started the fight and then powerfully-built Steer came
ploughing in, savagely kicking Mr French into unconsciousness
and then bashing his head against a shop window sill.

When Mr Chapman, who shared a house in Kingston with his
friend, went to his aid, he was attacked by Monaghan.

Mr French died hours later from a brain haemorrhage.

Mr
Chapman, 22, was taken to hospital with a head injury.

In the witness box, Monaghan denied ever laying a finger on
Mr French but admitted assaulting Mr Chapman.

He claimed Mr
Chapman had started the fight.

He had earlier admitted assault occasioning actual bodily
harm but denied murder and violent disorder.

Mr Robert Harman QC, for Monaghan, said the fight was
spontaneous, unplanned, unexpected and short lived.

‘He has deep and genuine remorse, which is emphasised in a
psychiatric report and the pre-sentence report.

‘
Judge Rant gave Monaghan credit for his remorse and the
‘many months’ spent in custody awaiting trial for murder.

The judge told him: ‘Apart from this incident, you were a
perfectly decent and respectable young man with the love and
support of your family.

‘This conviction is a disaster for you and your family.

‘This was a brutal assault and I reject completely the
evidence you gave that Mr Chapman wanted to fight.

‘
Monaghan was sentenced to 30 months detention in a young
offenders institution.

ENDS