Man admits New Year's Day murder of pensioner

The killer of a 67-year-old man has formally admitted his guilt.
Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

Elderly Wenqing Xu, who is from China, is thought to have been doing early morning power walking when he was repeatedly kicked and stamped on, causing catastrophic head injuries.

Preston man Nathan Richardson, of Bury Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to a charge of murder during a hearing before Preston Crown Court.

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The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, said the 19-year-old defendant would be sentenced on June 12.

Another man charged in connection with the incident faces a trial at the same court on June 5.

Luke Jenkinson, 22, of De Lacy Street, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, denies a charge of assisting an offender.

Lancashire Police were alerted by the North West Ambulance Service at around 8.30am on New Year’s Day after Mr Xu was found unconscious, with the bottom half of his clothes missing, by passers by on Hammond Street, Preston, close to Plungington Community Centre.

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He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital in a critical condition, and he later died from his injuries.

Sources told the Post the pensioner, who was said to weigh less than eight stone, had suffered a fractured jaw and other injuries.

Richardson had been at a New Year party a few hours earlier.

(case proceeding)