A PUBLICITY-shy teenager has been commended for going to the aid of a man dying in the street after an attack.

The girl was aged 15 when she tried to act as peacemaker in an incident in Chatham that led to David Henkel being fatally injured after a single punch from Nowbahar Bahar.

During Bahar's trial in January, she told the jury by TV link how she and a friend witnessed the confrontation between Mr Henkel, who was 32, and Bahar, an overstayer in this country from Afghanistan, in Luton in July las year.

The victim, who lived in Bank Street, Luton, suffered a fractured skull as he fell.

Bahar, 22, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, denied manslaughter but was convicted and jailed for four-and-a-half years. He was later recommended for deportation.

At the end of the trial, Judge Andrew Patience praised the girl, now 16, for the way she acted and recommended that she should receive a small reward from Kent's High Sheriff Andrew Wells.

The judge said the girl, who does not wish to be identified, noticed at an early stage that Mr Henkel was in trouble and tried to keep both men from coming to harm.

"When Mr Henkel had been hit, she stayed with him," he said. "She tried to help him by turning him on his side. She remained until the ambulance came."

The girl returned to court this week to receive a framed certificate.

Judge Patience said when he heard about what the girl had done he was quite certain that it was a "very special thing".

The High Sheriff told the teenager: "You could have had a very tricky situation on your hands with these two men. You could have run away. You did not and the community in Kent is very appreciative of what you did that day.

"It was a tragedy for Mr Henkel and his family, but you were very brave - and an example to everyone else in this room."