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Gay News: Student accused of killing of Ian Baynham says he thought girl would get hurt
By: Nigel Robinson
Ian Baynham
Ian Baynham
Student says he hit gay man to protect girl
A student accused of killing a gay man in Trafalgar Square claimed he punched the man because he saw him hit a girl and was worried she might get hurt.
Sixty-two-year-old Ian Baynham was allegedly attacked by Joel Alexander. 19, and Ruby Thomas and Rachel Burke, both 18, in Trafalgar Square in September last year.
Mr Baynham died in hospital eighteen days later.
Alexander told the court at the Old Bailey that he had been out drinking with friends when he became aware of Burke shouting “something like ‘batty boys’” at Mr Baynham and a friend.
"I remember him turning around and saying something back to Ruby along the lines of 'I may be gay but...',” Alexander continued.
“Then I remember him walking a few paces towards where we were sitting. They walked towards each other."
Alexander told the court that he thought that there was going to be another confrontation, and that he saw the contents of Thomas’s bag fall on the floor.
"What I was perceiving was a grown man hitting a girl. She was more subdued; she wasn't as lairy any more. It looked to me as if the man was starting to get the better of her. That's when I thought I had to act. I lunged at Mr Baynham and hit him with my right hand.”
In response to a question from his barrister about his concerns about what would happen if he didn’t act, Alexander replied:
"I thought Ruby could end up getting hurt because he was quite substantially bigger than her."
Alexander, Thomas and Burke all deny manslaughter.
