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A member of the gang which left a German student brain damaged in a city centre attack has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Michael Murray, 18, today admitted his involvement in Daniel Ezzedine’s life-changing assault as he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court.
Murray, of St Gregory’s Road, Canterbury, is the latest teenager prosecuted as the victim continues rehabilitation from an “earthquake” of skull fractures.
Fellow gang member Jack Barron smashed Mr Ezzedine in the face with a bag likely loaded with bricks, while Luke Fogarolli took a running stamp on the 17-year-old's head.
Murray will be sentenced alongside other co-defendants on June 11 after some indicated guilty pleas, the court heard.
It comes after Barron, 17, was sentenced last year to six years in a young offenders' institute, and Fogarolli six-and-a-half years - including 12 months for a separate matter of dealing Class A drugs.
During a trial last year the court was told Mr Ezzedine suffered an “earthquake” of skull fractures during the attack near Primark in Canterbury city centre, resulting in a life-limiting brain injury.
Judge Simon James told Barron and Fogarolli Mr Ezzedine is “unlikely to recover” after their attack brought “shame on the city”.
“International visitors have been welcomed to Canterbury for hundreds of years," he said.
“Daniel Ezzedine was a young man with his whole life ahead of him.
“He, together with other classmates from his school in Germany, came to England to experience a different culture, and to Canterbury to explore our city’s rich historical heritage.
“He left, not with the expected life-enhancing experience, but with a life-threatening and life-changing brain injury, from which he is unlikely to recover.”
Daniel was given just a 30% chance of survival, but despite beating the odds had to have part of his brain removed.
The jury was shown CCTV footage showing 10 people running through the streets chasing one of Mr Ezzedine's friends.
It then showed the group around Mr Ezzedine in Rose Lane as a melee unfolded.
The German student was seen to kick out at one of the boys, but he stumbled and fell, when Barron was seen to swing a black bag at Mr Ezzedine's head.
Fogarolli then kicked Mr Ezzedine while he was motionless on the ground.
Both were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent during the June 2019 attack.
In January, George Potter, 19, was handed 18 months in a young offenders’ institute, suspended for two years, after admitting violent disorder.
Prosecutor Simon Taylor QC told how Potter delivered the first punch against a member of the German group in the lead-up to the tragedy.
He was not responsible for Daniel’s life-altering injuries, but was an “eager participant in the violence”, the court heard.
Wearing a white t-shirt, grey jogging bottoms and medical face mask, Murray spoke to confirm his name and enter a plea.
The teenager, who is under the supervision of Kent County Council’s youth offending team, remains excluded from Canterbury city centre, on house curfew and must not communicate with co-defendants.
After ordering pre-sentence reports, Judge James told him: “Although it’s taken some time for reality to dawn, you have pleaded guilty and that will reduce your sentence.”
