A 24-YEAR-OLD Lee man has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years after beating to death Catford student Thierry Christian-Gnanakumar in Lewisham High Street.

Kohulan Podiappuhamey was part of a "pack of animals" who set on Thierry Christian-Gnanakumar using an arsenal of weapons on November 10 last year.

Podiappuhamey, of Woodyates Road, was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey yesterday (September 4) and sentenced shortly afterwards.

Six other men were cleared of the murder but found guilty of violent disorder following the incident, which saw Mr Christian-Gnanakumar's skull smashed during a fight involving cricket bats, hockey sticks and metal poles.

Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee told the trial: "'Like a pack of animals, they overwhelmed the slowest and last of their fleeing targets.

"That particular victim was repeatedly beaten about his head.

"It was such a ferocious onslaught that his skull was quite literally in pieces - to the point that his brain protruded out of his head."

The third year biomedical science student, who had been out celebrating a friend’s birthday and, like the accused men, was of Sri Lankan descent, was found by emergency services outside Lewisham Library. He died in hospital the following day.

Jeyaruban Vivekananthan, aged 26, of Nightingale Heights, Greenwich, Pirunthan Kunaratnam, aged 23, of Arkindale Road, Bellingham, Kaviolan Venayakamoorthy, aged 24, of Eastdown Park, Lewisham, Rubesius Selvaratnam, aged 21, of St Filans Road, Catford and 33-year-old Jeyasuthan Theiventhirmpillai, from New Malden, were all sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Jius Vijashimghe, aged 28, of Baizdon Road, Blackheath, was cleared on all counts.

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