A 26-year-old man has admitted killing a dad in a Stockbridge Village chip shop. Jahfari Moore had been charged with the murder of Carl Ennis, 54, who suffered a serious head injury during the assault and later died in hospital.
Plea accepted by prosecution
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday via video link from Ashworth high security hospital in Maghull, Moore pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter. Gordon Cole KC told the court the Crown Prosecution Service had accepted the alternative plea after it had been "considered for quite some time".
Moore, of Marled Hey in Stockbridge Village, had previously been found unfit to plead. The court heard both the prosecution and Moore's counsel, Richard Pratt KC and Jonathan Duffy, wanted medical reports prepared to determine how he would be sentenced.
Sentencing date set
Judge Neil Flewitt KC told the defendant: "I am making arrangements to sentence you on November 16 if all the reports are available then. You will appear again over the link."
He added: "If there is any reason why I can't sentence you I will fix a later date on which I can. Until then you remain technically in custody, but for the time being you will remain where you are."
Fatal assault details
The ECHO previously reported Mr Ennis was hit with a "single, albeit forceful punch" following a disagreement inside The Village Chippy, off Leach Croft, at around 7.30pm on April 17. The North West Ambulance Service reported the incident to Merseyside Police the following day, leading to the suspect being held on suspicion of section 18 wounding on April 20.
Mr Ennis, known as Scully, died in hospital on April 21, and Moore was further arrested on suspicion of murder. Mr Ennis was said to have been waiting for his food at the time of the incident, and was tended to by staff and a regular customer before leaving with his takeaway.
Tributes to victim
At the time of his death, Mr Ennis' loved ones paid tribute to his "kind and caring nature". Jackie Jones wrote on Facebook: "We shared so many happy and adventurous times growing up. You were one of the truest people I ever had the privilege to be around. You will be sadly missed. Forever in all our hearts. We will see you on the other side."
Others remembered Mr Ennis as a "lovely fella", while residents described him as a "familiar face" and a "nice lad". One person who did not wish to be named said: "It's so sad what happened. I only knew of him, really, but he'd always shout hello every time he saw me. He was a lovely lad." Several floral tributes were left for Mr Ennis outside the chip shop, including around half a dozen bouquets and a wreath bearing the words "RIP Scully".
