Eastbourne shopkeeper saw yobs punch man to death (From The Argus)

Eastbourne shopkeeper saw yobs punch man to death

9:52am Monday 20th August 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

An Eastbourne shopkeeper watched in horror as a man was punched to death.

Bayram Suhindal said he tried to intervene to defuse tensions between victim Chris Poole and teenagers outside his shop just moments before the attack in the Hydneye.

Mr Poole, 46, was knocked unconscious at 9pm on Thursday and died in hospital on Friday night.

Mr Suhindal said that his repeated calls for CCTV, which he claims could have prevented this incident, had been ignored.

Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of his murder. Last night detectives were questioning a 15-year-old and a 19-year-old.

A 13-year-old boy has been released on police bail until September 3.

Yesterday, close friends and neighbours left tributes around a tree near to where Mr Poole was attacked.

His partner described the Poundland manager as her “soulmate” and a “great father figure”.

An online petition has been launched following the attack calling on Eastbourne Borough Council to install CCTV cameras in the area.

Mr Suhindal said he was in the shop when a friend said there was something going on outside.

He said: “I saw the victim and a teenager and they were mouthing off at each other.

“I asked them to walk away and the victim went to his dogs which he had tied to a little wooden fence.

“He was untying the dog and was about to go and someone from nowhere gave him an uppercut and he fell to the floor.

“Five seconds later the victim gets up and then someone hit him in the head from behind and he just dropped on the concrete.

“I was just telling people to call the ambulance and police.”

Mr Suhindal said he didn’t believe the incident would have happened if CCTV had been installed.

He and other residents had made repeated requests for cameras to deter anti-social behaviour outside his shop but was told there was not the money to pay for the £50,000 cameras.

He has now started a petition in his shop calling for CCTV to be installed.

His partner Penny paid tribute to former Ratton School pupil Mr Poole.

She said: "I'm devastated by the loss of a best friend and my soulmate, also the great father figure to all our children.

"You'll always be in my heart and I love you forever."

His mother Diane said: "Chris was a great and loving son, brother to devastated Rick, lover of wild birds and animals and a friend to anyone.

"Such a waste of a lovely young man who gave such a lot to so many and who was loved so dearly by us all."

Detective Inspector Wendy Burton, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "It's so tremendously sad that this man has died, an absolute tragedy.

“Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.

"We are doing all we can to learn about what happened that night, the circumstances that led to this attack and now his untimely death.”

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Delaware or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Click here to sign the petition .