Two teenagers have been found guilty of aggravated assault for their roles in the mob beating of a 46-year-old musician outside a Stoney Creek pizza shop.

The two males, who were 17 at the time of the 2:30 a.m. swarming on Nov. 12, 2006, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault.

One of the youths, who allegedly pepper-sprayed the victim, is also charged with administering a noxious substance. He was found guilty of that charge.

Eugene Kelly, an Irish musician and Dofasco steelworker, was on his way home from playing with his band at the Corktown Pub in central Hamilton when he stopped at the Highway 8 pizza shop. He had a disagreement with a couple of youths in the store.

The terse exchange involved a third teenager, Bronson Vinerskis, 18, who later admitted participating in the attack and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. He will be sentenced April 9.

Kelly was knocked to the pavement by Mr. Vinerskis and as many as seven or eight teenagers punched and kicked him in the head.

Residences seized

Two Hamilton properties, including one in Stoney Creek, with a total net value of almost $325,000 were forfeited to the Crown under provincial civil forfeiture law.

Lawyers for the Attorney General demonstrated to the civil court that property in Stoney Creek was used to produce and traffic in marijuana and to steal electricity. Property in Ancaster, cash and bank accounts were also found to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

On Feb. 14, the Superior Court ordered that the property and money be forfeited to the Crown. The case was subject to a 30-day appeal period, which has expired.

The proceeds of civil forfeitures are used to compensate victims of the unlawful activity and used for grants to support initiatives that help prevent victimization.

In December 2004, the Hamilton Police Service seized plants and dried marijuana with a street value of almost $300,000 from the Stoney Creek house. A 34-year-old male and 36-year-old female were charged with numerous drug related offences, including theft from hydro and proceeds of crime.