A 13-YEAR-old boy has confessed to a part in the killing of a Hampshire man.

The youth, thought to be one of the youngest people in the county ever to be convicted of a killing, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of artist Peter Ramsey.

As his mother and weeping grandmother looked on from the public gallery at Winchester Crown Court, the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea.

He is the second youth to admit a part in the killing of 40-year-old Mr Ramsey, who died of severe head injuries following an incident with a group of youths.

Both teenagers appeared in the dock dressed in casual clothes and flanked by security officers and social workers. They spoke only to confirm their names and give their pleas.

A trial involving the 15-year-old is expected to last five days, and will be held in Winchester and start on March 26.

Both boys were remanded into custody.

The 13-year-old admitted the killing of Mr Ramsey, 40, of Green Park Road, Millbrook. Mr Ramsey died of severe head injuries following an incident with a group of youths in Wimpson Lane in October last year.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, another 15-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge of manslaughter when he appeared in court last month.

The judge said that he would sentence the two who had admitted their guilt after the end of the trial in early April.

Canadian-born Mr Ramsey, an artist and father-of-two, is alleged to have become involved with the youths as he walked home from Tesco Express with his partner Victoria Lewis.

He managed to get home but was later taken to Southampton General Hospital to have a blood clot removed from his brain. He never regained consciousness and died on October 13.

Miss Lewis described Mr Ramsey as a "gentle giant and hopelessly romantic".

Six youths were arrested after a police investigation. Three were released without charge.