THE trial of two men and a 17-year-old girl accused of the murder, manslaughter and robbery of a 54-year-old Doctor, Gary Jenkins, has heard how the accused were allegedly motivated by “greed, homophobia, and a straightforward liking for violence”.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court has heard how Dr. Gary Jenkins was “beaten, robbed, tortured, and left for dead” by the two men and a teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in Bute Park, Cardiff in the early hours of Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
Dr. Jenkins suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack and died at the University Hospital of Wales 17 days later.
Jason Edwards, 25, and Lee William Strickland, 36, both from Cardiff, have admitted the charges of manslaughter, robbery of a bag, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Dafydd Enoch, prosecuting, described the events, saying: “It was a beating apparently motivated by greed, homophobia, and a straightforward liking of violence.
“All three defendants accept that they all were present when Dr. Jenkins was attacked.”
Mr. Enoch told the court some of the events in the 54-year-old father-of-two’s life that led him to be in Bute Park that night, saying: “He became estranged from his wife and moved back to Cardiff six years ago.
“Dr. Jenkins was bisexual and when he moved back to Cardiff this particular side of his character came to the fore.
“He was open about it and colleagues were well aware of his bisexuality.
“Dr. Jenkins was in the habit of attending Bute Park in Cardiff at night looking for sexual contact with like-minded men and would drink heavily as well. He was thought of as fit and healthy and was proud of his appearance. He had no financial difficulties.
“His sexual proclivities were to be his undoing. By engaging in that activity he rendered himself hopelessly vulnerable and was an easy target as he wandered about Bute Park. By its nature the activity he engaged in was risky.”
Mr. Enoch also told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that the three defendants attended Bute Park that night “to target somebody for robbery and violence”, also saying: “They knew what went on in that park at that time of night and the vulnerable nature of people frequenting that part of Cardiff.”
Mr. Enoch said the attack “lasted for nearly 15 minutes” and those responsible were “indulging in sport”. He told the jury: “It was torture – pure and simple.”
“He didn’t deserve what happened to him – he was a much-loved and admired individual .
“Not one scintilla of remorse has been shown by any of these defendants who were prepared to leave him for dead on his own in the park.”
All accused deny murdering Dr. Jenkins and the trial continues.
