Three teenage girls jailed for manslaughter of Islington elderly man

Three teenage girls have been detained after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the death of a 75 year old man who was attacked at a bus stop in Islington, north London, on the night of 27 February. Fredi Rivero, a Bolivian national, was set upon shortly after 11.15pm near Seven Sisters Road and died in hospital the following day after suffering a traumatic brain injury, the court heard.

CCTV and mobile phone footage played at the Old Bailey showed the youths, then aged 14, 16 and 17 and now 15, 17 and 17, getting off a bus, approaching Mr Rivero and surrounding him. Prosecutors said the group pushed, shoved, kicked and punched him while one of the girls recorded the incident on her phone. During an initial interaction Mr Rivero made a two fingered peace sign as he tried to diffuse the situation, the court was told. The oldest girl then struck a blow to his head that caused him to fall backwards and strike the pavement. Police were called at 11.25pm and found Mr Rivero unconscious and in cardiac arrest. He was taken to the Royal London Hospital where initial investigations identified a traumatic brain injury; he later died.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley described the attack as...