Beyake Keita Ann died after baseball bat attack in Attock Park

Beyake Keita Ann was just 21 when he died on September 15, 2016. He had been in hospital since the vicious attack in Attock Park, Laisterdyke, on August 23.

The inquest, held at Bradford Coroners’ Court, heard Gambian males were playing football in the park, on Rufford Street, when a ball accidentally hit a car. 

Attock Park, Laisterdyke, where the attack happened

This sparked an altercation and a group of males later congregated in the park armed with sticks or bats. That was when Beyake was hit with a baseball bat, leaving him severely injured.

Assistant coroner Peter Merchant, who delivered a narrative verdict, said the attack was unprovoked and Beyake had done nothing to warrant what happened.

Toxicology tests did not identify any substances in Beyake’s system that could in any way be said to be contributory to the circumstances surrounding his death.

As a result of the police investigation, one individual was convicted of a violent disorder offence, though it was stressed at the time of the court case last year that while he was present at the scene, he was not carrying a weapon and did not join in the attack.

The inquest heard West Yorkshire Police’s investigations remain ongoing.

Beyake was originally from Gambia but his family moved to Spain, where he went to school.

He later moved to France, before returning to Spain to study catering. It was in 2015 when he came to England to look for work and a better life.

In a statement, his brother Danlo described him as a “quiet, shy and reserved” man who was close to his family.

It was around 9pm on August 23 when he received a call his brother had been taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary.

Their father came from Spain and remained at his son’s bedside. Beyake had surgery, including one to remove a section of his skull, but his condition did not improve and he developed a chest infection.

Danlo said the decision to switch off his life support machine would stay with him forever and he and his family are struggling to come to terms with what happened.

He said they had been left devastated by Beyake’s death and that he had gone to play football with his friends, but was assaulted so ferociously he died from his injuries.