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Exclusive: Sutton man killed after argument over Halloween witch's hat

2:40pm Monday 2nd November 2009 in News Exclusive By Leanne Fender and Thais Portilho-Shrimpton

Police launched a murder inquiry after 30-year-old Ben Gardner died in hospital the evening after he was beaten in Sutton town centre Police launched a murder inquiry after 30-year-old Ben Gardner died in hospital the evening after he was beaten in Sutton town centre

A man died after he was attacked by a gang when he tried to stop them stealing his girlfriend’s costume witch's hat on Hallowe’en night.

Police launched a murder inquiry after 30-year-old Ben Gardner died in hospital the evening after the beating at 3.43am on Sunday morning.

He was out with his 28-year-old girlfriend when a man took the witch's hat she was wearing and Mr Gardner asked the man to return the hat.

A police spokesman said the man returned the hat but then punched and kicked Mr Gardner until he was left unconscious lying on the ground.

He suffered head injuries and died at a south London hospital later that evening.

Police officers and London Ambulance Service were called to Throwley Way, Sutton at 3.34am.

Will Fearnley-Whittingstall, 30, from Farnborough knew Mr Gardner for 25-years. He described the attack as “senseless”.

The cousin of TV chef Hugh Fearnley Whitingstall said: “He was best man at my wedding.

"He was like a brother to me. We grew up together as neighbours and used to ride bikes together in the park.”

“His girlfriend was wearing a wig and a costume and as they were walking towards the police station she was accosted by a group of lads who stopped her and tried to take her wig off.

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"Ben tried to intervene and help her, but he was punched once and fell to the ground, then he was kicked and punched more.”

“He died at 8pm. I was there and he never regained consciousness.”

“I know this is going to sound cliché, but Ben was very happy-go-lucky, everyone’s friend, always had a smile on.

"He loved his friends and his family very much. He was godfather to my three-year-old son.”

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall said Mr Gardner – who had just bought a flat in Sutton - was a member of a darts team, bowling team, played pool and followed Liverpool Football Club.

He said: “He was always out socialising and also enjoyed playing computer games. He was a regular 30-year-old. He was very happy.

“His mum died when he was 12 and he lived with his nanna.

"She was more like his mother, and he loved her.

"First she’s lost her daughter and now Ben. She’s devastated, they all are.

“I had an email from him last Thursday. Last time I saw him was six weeks ago when he was best man at my wedding.”

Six men and two women have been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody at south London police stations.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command based at Sutton are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

• Do you know Ben Gardner? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a tribute below.

Comments(23)

Worzel k says...
3:03pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Totally vile and senseless murder of innocent, decent, honest, man. Britain has become a vile and nasty place under this Govt.

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ohdearyme says...
5:22pm Mon 2 Nov 09

I cant believe what some people will resort to violence over. Pathetic.

My thoughts go out to his family...RIP

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theavengers says...
5:40pm Mon 2 Nov 09

This is sick. It seems good hard working people are targets to chav scum and nothing is done to prevent it (aka where aren't more police put on Sutton streets at night???) This is wrong, should never happen again, but unfortunately will. Chavs are raised to be violent, the men and women alike. Like dogs attacking what they envy. I really hope these scum rot in prison (but again, that won't happen and they'll be out soon to commit more horrors). This just is not fair!!

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jwd1879 says...
6:20pm Mon 2 Nov 09

It happened practically opposite the Police station makes you feel real safe!

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anon88 says...
6:34pm Mon 2 Nov 09

I never comment on these articles, however I feel compelled to write.
This act is a senseless and discgraceful act by alcohol fuelled youths who do have no consideration for the life of others. Often people are seen fighting after a night out and they do not consider the potential consiquences of their actions. These inividuals now have a murder charge hanging over there heads.

They should have been taken to the hospital to see what they had done to this young chap and the pain they have inflicted upon his family.
I hope these individulals cant live with themselves for what they have done and I hope they think it was all worth it.
I'm sending thoughts and best wishes to Bens family and friends.

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Heasmank says...
6:39pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Ben was an ex boyfriend of mine from 5 years ago. He was a lovely guy who did not deserve this. Im in total shock. I cant not beleive there were no police around, Sutton is usually crawling with police at night. I send my best wishes to his family who i no longer have contact with. Hopefully Will - if your reading this please get in contact via facebook. All my love Katie H

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AnneFW says...
6:56pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Katie, I will pass your msg to Will.

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JamesB85 says...
6:58pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Awful news. So tragic Ben didn't pull through. RIP

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smurfette2 says...
7:30pm Mon 2 Nov 09

This story has made me cold all day, what a senseless reason to kill. My heart goes out to Ben's family and friends. May the people who did this rot in hell! What a crap world we live in when we can not protect our love ones and property without the fear of being attacked and killed RIP.

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DoraTheExplorer says...
7:40pm Mon 2 Nov 09

My sympathies to this man's family, friends and girlfriend.

This sort of thing is happening far too often on our streets nowadays. I lived (and partied) in Sutton for many years, but would no longer feel safe going out for an evening for fear of being stabbed, beaten or shot, either there or anywhere else......!

I understand people are in custody already over this savage attack, GOOD. Make an example of them! No doubt they'll use the excuse that it was just a silly drink-fuelled bit of aggression that got out of hand, they didn't mean to kill him. Well tough - they did! Ignore their pathetic 'sorries', and punish them for what they did - beat a man to death! Their sentences shouldn't be about whether they might reoffend in the future. Normal, decent people understand it's not ok to beat others in the street, they're obviously scum - lock them away and have a few less thugs out there.

PLEASE can someone do something about the laws in this country which have become so soft, criminals have nothing to fear and children are growing up carrying knives to school. Let's make sentencing harsher and prisons a place to fear. Rehabilitation of criminals isn't working and whoever thought ASBOS would be a deterrant doesn't live in the real world. Let's make prison a fitting punishment for crimes committed. We're fed up hearing 'First offence, I'll get off with a caution....' and, 'I'll do half the time and be out with a tag on good behaviour....'

This man has died over a hat - come on, lock up his killers, change some laws, fix this country PLEASE!

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Vent1710 says...
8:21pm Mon 2 Nov 09

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Ben. He was a good friend, a true gent and a lovely person. I'm in total shock and so sad at this terrible news. I'm also incredibly angry that something like this could have happened in Sutton. My heart goes out to his family and all who knew him. Such a needless loss of life.

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Heasmank says...
9:39pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Thanks AnneFW, I have now made contact with Will.

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rgke says...
5:39am Tue 3 Nov 09

Ben lived in the same block of flats as me. A nicer guy I have yet to meet. I simply cannot believe this news. RIP

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New Malden Man says...
9:20am Tue 3 Nov 09

Its a tragedy that a decent person has died at the hands of worthless scum. It is quite clear that the government cannot cope with the violent society that they have helped create and the police are struggling to deal with the situtation. Its about time the decent people of this country re-claimed the streets for ourselves as the authorities are loosing the battle.

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shandygirl says...
10:13am Tue 3 Nov 09

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Ben at UCB and I know that myself and all his friends and ex colleagues are still reeling from the horrific news. I cant even begin to explain how shocking it is and what a waste of a life.
How could these scumbags do something like this to a decent wonderful kind and true gentleman.
Ben was an easy going and laid back guy and always had a smile on his face.
He was taken from us all so soon and its absolutely tragic.
My heartfelt thoughts and love go to his family and all who loved him. May you rest in peace Benjy. You will be hugely missed.

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Sutton_K says...
11:23am Tue 3 Nov 09

This world is getting sicker by the day and it will keep happening until something is done! Just outside the police station makes you sick

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DebD says...
12:23pm Tue 3 Nov 09

I found this young man's killing absolutely shocking and deeply upsetting. To see his young smiling face in the photo is heartwrenching. Such a senseless waste of a life. I hope his murderers get the very long custodial sentences they deserve. My son of 16 has just started going into Sutton in the evenings and I've been concerned for his safety - now I'm terrified and am inclined to ban these excursions. That surely isn't right. We and our children have the right to walk safely in our streets.

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bb121 says...
2:17pm Tue 3 Nov 09

I too had the pleasure of working with Ben. He was a real nice guy who had nothing bad to say about anyone or anything. It is such a shame that some people feel this is an acceptable way of behaving. I do go out in Sutton a fair bit and can now safely say that I will be thinking twice about going there.
I hope these people get what is coming to them and face the concequences of what their stupid actions have done to someone elses life!!

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GemL says...
2:54pm Tue 3 Nov 09

Such a sad story, I live in Sutton but after the 2 murders in town recently I will not be going there in the evening ever again. My 21 year old brother often goes in to town on a saturday night and I worry so much for his safety. RIP Ben, I hope the scum that did it get what they deserve.

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millywall says...
9:18pm Tue 3 Nov 09

im very sad ,and my heart goes out to Ben parents r.i.p.Ben how can these sort of scum reach so low in life that they find pleasure in violence . i used to live in rosehill and i called the police a number of times on youths who r like this the Collinders family and a few other youth`s drove me out of rosehill ,the police do nothink they tell u to drop the charges so they dont come back and harress u . i think its wrong they should b locked up why wait for all this to happen !!Brixton is so much more safer than sutton rosehill and i never thought i be saying that and i blame the youths parents as well for their children well being ,every naughty child their is a naughty parent ? i say i thank god that i moved far away from that area or that could be one of my son`s who has got murdered so my heart goes out for bens family and hope the scum rotts in jail xxx 4m lisa a single parent who lived in that area x x x

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skk says...
10:53pm Tue 3 Nov 09

Truly shocked. Not a week goes by without some kind of senseless murder now a days. I stopped going out in both Sutton and Croydon some 10 years ago when I realised it was safer going out in Brixton or Soho. Unfortunately that is the way the towns have gone.

I was driving down the M4 when I heard the news, heard the name and thought nothing of it. It is when I heard Bens age that it dawned on me it could be the same lad I went to school with.

Unfortunately it was.

My heart goes out to his friends and family.


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phil1974 says...
2:16pm Thu 5 Nov 09

Another act of violence by mindless drunken yobs has resulted in more devastation and the loss of a decent young man.
Hope the lowlife who did this get banged up for a very long time

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moomins says...
9:05am Sun 8 Nov 09

It is such a tragedy that yet another life has been taken. I hope the scum who done it pay. I dont agree with most of the coments, how the parents are to blame. I knew so many troubled teens growing up and they all had loving parents, who were at wits end of what to do to get them back on the straight and narrow. It sickens me to think the world is getting worse everyday.

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