Teenager dies after serious assault in Rottingdean (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Teenager dies after serious assault in Rottingdean
3:39pm Sunday 15th April 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
A teenager who was the victim of a serious assault in Rottingdean has died.
Connor Saunders, 19, of Downsway, Woodingdean, Brighton, was assaulted in West Street, Rottingdean, last night following an argument between two groups.
Shortly after the assault three boys - a 13-year-old and two 14-year-olds - were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
They have now been arrested on suspicion of murder. They remain in custody this afternoon.
It is believed the assault took place between 10.30pm and 10.55pm.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information to contact them.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick May of Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team is leading the investigation, known as Operation Markby.
He said: "Sadly a young man has now died following a serious assault in Rottingdean last night. Our thoughts are with the family at what is an incredibly difficult time for them.
"Officers will be in the Rottingdean area to speak with local residents and anyone who may be concerned about the incident.
"An area of West Street is cordoned off to help us with our investigation and residents and visitors to Rottingdean today have been very understanding of the reasons around this.
"I'd like to thank them for their continued patience and support.
"We are still working to establish the full circumstances of the incident. At the moment we believe that an altercation has taken place between two groups in West Street.
"Members of each group are known to each other and during the incident the 19-year-old victim has been punched to the head, causing him to fall to the floor.
"I am aware that there has been some speculation locally that a weapon was involved, but there is no indication from the information we have that this was the case.
"We are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to police.
"We would also like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything prior to the assault taking place."
Anyone with information is aksed to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments(56)
Will600000
says...
3:55pm Sun 15 Apr 12
saltdeanguy
says...
4:15pm Sun 15 Apr 12
The young boys that did this attack.......I hope this lives with you for the rest of your lives! Disgusting!!!!!
Parents, what the hell are your 13yo children doing out at 11pm anyway??!!
My sincerest sympathies to Connors family.
deanaprior
says...
4:15pm Sun 15 Apr 12
J'av
says...
4:44pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Will600000 wrote:There's a time and a place you heartless fool.
*Their*
PaddingtownBear
says...
4:47pm Sun 15 Apr 12
So sad :-( x
Will600000
says...
4:48pm Sun 15 Apr 12
J'av wrote:My spelling mistake !!!!
Will600000 wrote:There's a time and a place you heartless fool.
*Their*
Corrected before the spelling police arrived !
Good to see you read everything before you start ranting :-/
sweetness
says...
5:10pm Sun 15 Apr 12
willy harris
says...
5:11pm Sun 15 Apr 12
rteen/fourteen kids out after 11,pm,???
be ashamed,
hubby
says...
5:15pm Sun 15 Apr 12
So we can start to get parents thinking about what their 13/14 year old kids are doing.
fedupwithgreens
says...
5:18pm Sun 15 Apr 12
fedupwithgreens
says...
5:18pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Will600000 wrote:Indeed it has!!! Murder!!!!
As a parent to a 19 year old and a resident of Rottingdean, this comes as a massive shock !
I am sure this will be felt through out the local community.
Deepest and sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of Connor.
Also thoughts to the three lads in custody, there situation has just gotten very real !!!
joanne_77
says...
5:36pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Morpheus
says...
6:14pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Jakob1
says...
6:24pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Devils Advocate 2
says...
6:27pm Sun 15 Apr 12
And now, one family has lost a son, and other families are about to lose their sons too (all be the latter into a penal system that will, undoubtedly, change them… and NOT necessarily for the better!).
A nightmare scenario and a tragic waste for all involved !
MissYouOllieGolbs
says...
6:33pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Physcho1
says...
6:45pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Hotbeans
says...
6:55pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Devils Advocate 2 wrote:Precisely. Films showing people punching each other in the face with little consequence are in a way more irresponsible than films showing gun violence. A single punch can kill, thereby ruining many lives in an instant by ending one. My condolences to all involved, even the families of the perpetrators.
Undoubtedly a moment madness & stupidity, probably fuelled by teenage bravado coupled with a perceived need to 'look tough' / 'act tough' in front of ones peers.
And now, one family has lost a son, and other families are about to lose their sons too (all be the latter into a penal system that will, undoubtedly, change them… and NOT necessarily for the better!).
A nightmare scenario and a tragic waste for all involved !
uslot
says...
6:56pm Sun 15 Apr 12
HF 05
says...
7:04pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Then I try to imagine what what I would think reading through half these comments.
We should all be paying our respects and offering our condolences to a family in grief.
anreamnsll
says...
7:05pm Sun 15 Apr 12
johnny m
says...
8:10pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Kemptownist
says...
8:19pm Sun 15 Apr 12
hubby
says...
8:28pm Sun 15 Apr 12
I don't feel sorry for the family of the boy who threw the punch.
If he hadn't,then Connor would still be alive.
There is never,ever an excuse for violence.
Especially violence that ends a young life.
nuff said
says...
8:29pm Sun 15 Apr 12
rolivan
says...
8:34pm Sun 15 Apr 12
Devils Advocate 2
says...
9:13pm Sun 15 Apr 12
nfc.com/images/saund
ers_cn_3.JPG
just-a-person
says...
9:32pm Sun 15 Apr 12
3:33pm Sun 15 Apr 12
johnny m wrote:
Maybe this was a case of self defense? any one thought of that, and they are NOT from Whitehawk, but from another estate and what makes Rottingdean such a GOOD area there is trouble everywhere nowadays, just because its a sleepy village does not mean to say that idiots dont live there, feel sorry for the person assaulted and also his family who I know from experience will be going frantic with worry, I wish him a speedy recovery, but also we do also have to pity the boys that have been accused of doing this, they will have to live with this for ever, when will the government and the police force in this country get together and start to do something about this ONE PUNCH CAN KILL culture that infects the UK, Australia have done something about it and its working, so why not here ????????
I agree with you. It could have just have easily been my son who with one friend was set on by this boy and a group of his friends with bottles not long ago. A waste of life and my thoughts go out to every family involved.
hubby
says...
10:23pm Sun 15 Apr 12
rolivan wrote:It isn't as if the names of the accused are being bandied around.Even though some of us know who they are.
I rang the Argus earlier to ask that comments should not be allowed even more so now somebody has lost their life.I thought there would be legal reasons for no comments allowed.
I think the Argus' legal department knows the score.
Sassyd
says...
10:45pm Sun 15 Apr 12
CharlotteP
says...
11:07pm Sun 15 Apr 12
hubby
says...
11:14pm Sun 15 Apr 12
It is a shame that there are so many parents who don't care where their kids are ....as long as they aren't around them.
What are 14 year old kids doing out and about in the very late evening other than causing problems?
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
11:20pm Sun 15 Apr 12
However, these teenagers will probably now end up in a youth offenders centre missing out on many years of their young lives because their parents failed them. Also another lad has lost his life in a senseless incident.
Many lives ruined in a pointless incident which is why children should be with adults and not wandering the streets.
RoverP6B
says...
2:14am Mon 16 Apr 12
chris elmes
says...
2:30am Mon 16 Apr 12
Wooders22
says...
4:35am Mon 16 Apr 12
george smith
says...
7:26am Mon 16 Apr 12
PaddingtownBear wrote:Fat chance, look at those who killed Jamie Bulger.
Rip, tragic loss of a young man. Can't imagine what his parents/friends are going through. To the scum that did this - I hope you spend years rotting in prison. So sad :-( x
tinkle34
says...
10:09am Mon 16 Apr 12
jackie1959
says...
12:26pm Mon 16 Apr 12
Michael Inkpin-Leissner
says...
1:10pm Mon 16 Apr 12
Regarding some comments here about the kids involved, they are inappropriate and set a poor example, however I do understand the anger. Those kids need to be held responsible as well as their parents. I learned that here in England all almost all responsiblity of educating children is given to state authorities. Parents need to take this responsibilties back. Only parents should have the general responsiblity to educate their children in appropriate manner to make them worthy citizens of the UK. This tragedy reminds me, how proud I am of my parents to have me and my sister educated in a good way. And don't tell me this is a question of money and social status. If something needs to be learned from this tragedy that parents whether on benefits or on a high salary, need to take responsibilty and be made responsible for the actions of their minor children.
just-a-person
says...
6:14pm Mon 16 Apr 12
hubby wrote:Having read your previous comments and this one I was just thinking to myself what a wonderful rose coloured world you live in.
I have 16 year old twins,and I know where they are.
It is a shame that there are so many parents who don't care where their kids are ....as long as they aren't around them.
What are 14 year old kids doing out and about in the very late evening other than causing problems?
just-a-person
says...
6:22pm Mon 16 Apr 12
anreamnsll wrote:Sorry for your loss.
My brother was attacked 3 years ago he died as a result of what happened to him but 2 years later . This is a very sad that this has continued to happen BUT please think about what you put as one family has a loss of a son and loosing my brother as a result of an attack you never get over it its hits you every day ...... BUt i ask you this did any of you see what happened ??? can you put blame on just one person? all of the boys involved are someones child ,brother,uncle ,nephew,cousin and no matter what you say all of your comments wont change what has happened !! my heart goes out to the family as with the loss of my brother it has left us torn appart but please its easy to jump and say things but unless you saw what happened be careful what you put as they are also someones child just think ?????
I agree with everything you have said.
hubby
says...
7:21pm Mon 16 Apr 12
just-a-person wrote:I left Brighton 10 years ago to live in Spain.Maybe that helps you to understand.
hubby wrote:Having read your previous comments and this one I was just thinking to myself what a wonderful rose coloured world you live in.
I have 16 year old twins,and I know where they are.
It is a shame that there are so many parents who don't care where their kids are ....as long as they aren't around them.
What are 14 year old kids doing out and about in the very late evening other than causing problems?
I live in a realistic world where I do things with my kids so they don't get into trouble.We do things as a family.
On the few occasions they go out with friends.We know where they are going,who they are with and one of us picks them up.
If you believe 13/14 year olds out at this time of the evening in groups without adult supervision is acceptable then fine.I just don't.
just-a-person
says...
8:31pm Mon 16 Apr 12
hubby wrote:That was not my issue but I hope your world stays so amazing.
just-a-person wrote:I left Brighton 10 years ago to live in Spain.Maybe that helps you to understand.
hubby wrote:Having read your previous comments and this one I was just thinking to myself what a wonderful rose coloured world you live in.
I have 16 year old twins,and I know where they are.
It is a shame that there are so many parents who don't care where their kids are ....as long as they aren't around them.
What are 14 year old kids doing out and about in the very late evening other than causing problems?
I live in a realistic world where I do things with my kids so they don't get into trouble.We do things as a family.
On the few occasions they go out with friends.We know where they are going,who they are with and one of us picks them up.
If you believe 13/14 year olds out at this time of the evening in groups without adult supervision is acceptable then fine.I just don't.
hubby
says...
9:24pm Mon 16 Apr 12
I just try to do what I think a parent should do.
just-a-person
says...
10:32pm Mon 16 Apr 12
hubby wrote:Likewise but it does not mean our children will never make mistakes, some big and unable to repair. May I suggest you read posts by anreamnsll and johnny m.
I must be missing your "Issue" then.
I just try to do what I think a parent should do.
mint0039
says...
11:04pm Mon 16 Apr 12
mint0039
says...
11:05pm Mon 16 Apr 12
a local resident_1
says...
12:55am Tue 17 Apr 12
PaddingtownBear wrote:so paddingtown bear,what good will come and what lesson is to be learnt by young boys spending years rotting in prison , you are right about one thing ,it is very sad,very sad that people like your self have come to the conclusion that people are guilty of a crime before they have even stood trial.what happened to inocent until proven guilty .
Rip, tragic loss of a young man. Can't imagine what his parents/friends are going through. To the scum that did this - I hope you spend years rotting in prison.
So sad :-( x
a local resident_1
says...
2:19am Tue 17 Apr 12
george smith wrote:one of many examples of how our legal system does not no what to do with children who have committed a crime.what those boys did to a poor defenceless child,was pure evil ,and sadly premeditated, but alas once released, crime was committed .they should not have been given the freedom to do so.
PaddingtownBear wrote:Fat chance, look at those who killed Jamie Bulger.
Rip, tragic loss of a young man. Can't imagine what his parents/friends are going through. To the scum that did this - I hope you spend years rotting in prison. So sad :-( x
a local resident_1
says...
2:57am Tue 17 Apr 12
george smith wrote:one of many examples of how our legal system does not no what to do with children who have committed a crime.what those boys did to a poor defenceless child,was pure evil ,and sadly premeditated, but alas once released, crime was committed .they should not have been given the freedom to do so.
PaddingtownBear wrote:Fat chance, look at those who killed Jamie Bulger.
Rip, tragic loss of a young man. Can't imagine what his parents/friends are going through. To the scum that did this - I hope you spend years rotting in prison. So sad :-( x
a local resident_1
says...
3:17am Tue 17 Apr 12
just-a-person wrote:i think it is harder for parents to keep a constant eye on kids in these times. for example in alot of families ,both parents need to work,not for greed ,but to survive.i try my hardest to be there and take an avid interest in my kids lives ,but i also believe we have to loosen the apron strings and with our help and direction watch them grow and flourish.at the age of 14-15 they should have some independance
hubby wrote:That was not my issue but I hope your world stays so amazing.
just-a-person wrote:I left Brighton 10 years ago to live in Spain.Maybe that helps you to understand.
hubby wrote:Having read your previous comments and this one I was just thinking to myself what a wonderful rose coloured world you live in.
I have 16 year old twins,and I know where they are.
It is a shame that there are so many parents who don't care where their kids are ....as long as they aren't around them.
What are 14 year old kids doing out and about in the very late evening other than causing problems?
I live in a realistic world where I do things with my kids so they don't get into trouble.We do things as a family.
On the few occasions they go out with friends.We know where they are going,who they are with and one of us picks them up.
If you believe 13/14 year olds out at this time of the evening in groups without adult supervision is acceptable then fine.I just don't.
hubby
says...
6:43pm Tue 17 Apr 12
Not the freedom to kill people though.
Unfortunately there are those who have no fear of the law,because their parents have told them not to.
They also have no fear of consequences because most of the time as they grow up there are none.
This time the parents won't be able to make it all go away.
There will be consequences.
So sad that a great young lad has had to die for a couple of disfunctional families to find this out.
just-a-person
says...
7:40pm Tue 17 Apr 12
hubby wrote:Three years ago the headlines could have been very different when my son and his friends were set on by a group of teenagers armed with bottles and one of those in the group was this boy. Now from the comments i have read he came from a good loving family and not a dysfunctional one, he was a wonderful boy and very loved.
I agree totally.
Not the freedom to kill people though.
Unfortunately there are those who have no fear of the law,because their parents have told them not to.
They also have no fear of consequences because most of the time as they grow up there are none.
This time the parents won't be able to make it all go away.
There will be consequences.
So sad that a great young lad has had to die for a couple of disfunctional families to find this out.
Life is cruel and unpredictable, it can also change or end in the blink of an eye. I hope you never ever go threw anything like this. Go and enjoy your twins and be a family instead of sitting on here because just like that they could be taken away from you and apart from that they will be at an age where they will want to go off and do there own thing then you will miss them also.
hubby
says...
11:39pm Tue 17 Apr 12
I won't comment any more on this tragic subject.I will still be thinking deeply about it though.
Will600000 says...
3:53pm Sun 15 Apr 12
I am sure this will be felt through out the local community.
Deepest and sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of Connor.
Also thoughts to the three lads in custody, there situation has just gotten very real !!!