A senior barrister has apologised for comments he made during a murder trial.
Today, three people were found guilty of the murder of Dr Gary Jenkins, who was killed in Bute Park.
Mr Jenkins, 54, , was brutally beaten, kicked and punched to death in Bute Park in the early hours of July 20 last year.
Audio of the horrendous attack, carried out by Jason Edwards, 25, Lee Strickland, 36, and Dionne Timms-Williams, 17, depicted Dr Jenkins pleading for help and for his attacks to “Leave me alone” but his cries were left unheeded.
After 15 minutes of being savagely beaten by the group, he was left for dead covered in blood with his trousers pulled down to expose his penis, in the ultimate humiliation. He was taken to hospital but died two weeks later on August 5.
Read more: Bute Park murderers caught on camera before and after killing
When he opened the case for the Crown Prosecution Service, Dafydd Enoch QC said he had been there for "sexual contact with like-minded men" and "his sexual predilections were to be his undoing", prompting criticism online and an apology from the CPS.
Telling the jury the details of the case, Mr Enoch said: “Dr Jenkins was in the habit of attending Bute Park in Cardiff at night looking for sexual contact with like-minded men and would drink heavily as well. He was thought of as fit and healthy and was proud of his appearance. He had no financial difficulties.
“His sexual proclivities were to be his undoing. By engaging in that activity he rendered himself hopelessly vulnerable and was an easy target as he wandered about Bute Park. By its nature the activity he engaged in was risky.”
Prosecutor Mr Enoch has since said Dr Jenkins was in no way to blame.
In his closing argument, Mr Enoch addressed some of the concerns raised on social media and said: "Let me say a word in passing about the concept of victim blaming.
"Gary Jenkins was in no way to blame for what happened to him. At the outset of the evidence, I read to you the statement of Paul Cantrell, Gary Jenkins' line manager and he stated that Dr Jenkins' friends and colleagues became aware of his habit of visiting Bute Park at night looking for like-minded men. And he said his friends were very concerned about that.
"The prosecution simply points to the fact that Dr Jenkins was indeed vulnerable in that park. But we're clear, he bore no responsibility for being a victim. Three people are responsible and they are these defendants.
"They seized upon his vulnerability to launch a gratuitously violent and homophobic attack."
He added: "I remain at pains to remind you how highly regarded Dr Jenkins was as a human being and professionally, on every level."
In a statement following the verdict Iestyn Wyn, campaigns, policy and research manager at Stonewall Cymru said: "Lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people should be free to go about their lives without fear or restriction, but the tragic death of Dr Jenkins is reminder of the hate our communities face for simply existing.
"Remarks made during the trial have further eroded the trust that our communities have in our justice system - where four in five (81%) of LGBTQ+ people already do not report hate incidents to the police.
"As people across the UK mourn the heart breaking loss of Dr Jenkins, the Government must take urgent action to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes and ensure all our communities are safe and free."
The Crown Prosecution Service has also apologised.
A spokesperson said: "The only people responsible for this horrific crime were those convicted today by the jury. The suggestion that Dr Jenkins was in any way to blame is completely wrong.
"We apologise for inappropriate and insensitive remarks made during the opening statement."
His comments drew widespread online criticism.
Welsh Government education minister Jeremy Miles tweeted during the trial: ""He was not 'undone' by his 'sexual proclivities'. He was brutally attacked, and died. We have a long way to go."
Lee Strickland, 36, Jason Edwards, 25, and 17-year-old girl Dionne Timms-Williams, who was 16 at the time, were found guilty of Dr Jenkins' murder at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
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