Four Cleared Of Peterborough Underpass Killing

13 January 2015, 15:11

Four teenagers have been cleared of beating a man to death in a Bretton underpass.

Prosecutors at Cambridge Crown Court had claimed 23 year-old Michael Green (pictured), was hit with a vodka bottle, punched, kicked and stamped on by the gang - three boys and a girl - in a late-night assault in Peterborough in May last year.

The youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had denied murder and today a jury found all of them not guilty, Cambridgeshire Police said.

Speaking afterwards, his mother, Barbara Green, said: "I think about Michael every day and I miss him very much. I have had many very low moments when I have cried for my lost son.

The thought that Michael's life was so cruelly cut short, is very hard to live with. Michael's death has been a terrible shock to me and to the whole family.

I have got good support from family and friends. I am very grateful for that support. This has left a huge hole in my life but I am sure that time will be a great healer."

The defendants are now all 17 apart from the youngest boy, who is 16.

*****

Following Michael's death, his mother, Barbara Green, penned this poem:

Michael, since you have been gone, now I know what REAL PAIN feels like.
Now I know despair
You were a light in our world, but now you are not there
You were my baby, and you were my friend
I will never forget you, precious Michael
Too young at 23, too young!
But this is not the end
I know you are here in spirit, that you are around, that we will meet again one day.
You are an angel now!
So till then Michael, love always, Ma and all the family x x x x 
 
Family Statement

I think about Michael every day and I miss him very much. I have had many very low moments when I have cried for my lost son. The thought that Michael's life was so cruelly cut short, is very hard to live with. Michael's death has been a terrible shock to me and to the whole family.

I have felt that a part of me has died too, as Michael was such a big part of my life. He was so caring. Since he has been gone, the house has been too quiet. No friends round playing computer games anymore, chatting, laughing, I miss that. I have got used to that quietness now, I have had to. I know Michael won't be coming back in a physical sense. 

I have got good support from family and friends. I am very grateful for that support. This has left a huge hole in my life but I am sure that time will be a great healer. The realisation that this will be forever (and Michael will always been a young 23 year-old, and will never age) is hard to cope with.

He was so looking forward to his 24th birthday party and becoming 25 next year.
I will always love Michael. I feel very privileged to have had such a caring, loving and kind son. He had a good heart and a big personality and is missed by many people. He is our angel now, and always will be, for ever