A teenager who stabbed a reveller to loss of life and used to be then heard ‘boasting’ about it afterwards has been cleared on murder however used to be found responsible of his manslaughter.
Thomas Betteridge inflicted a deadly wound to the chest of 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton all through a the city centre brawl.
Afterwards, as trainee plumber Mr Hamilton lay loss of life, Betteridge flung the knife away and fled the scene. He shall be sentenced for the crime on April5
He used to be overheard saying to a friend of how he had ‘sliced up’ the victim.
Police officers got to Mr Hamilton 10 seconds after he was once stabbed however there was nothing they may do to save him.
Thomas Betteridge stabbed to demise Cameron Hamilton, left, during a brawl in Dorset
The fatal assault took place in The Square in Bournemouth, Dorset. Betteridge denied murdering Mr Hamilton insisting he most effective acted in self defence
Betteridge, 18, was once found via police close by. He reside streamed his arrest on Instagram and ‘feigned ignorance’ of the stabbing and then confirmed ‘righteous indignation’ at being stopped and searched.
He denied murdering Mr Hamilton, claiming he had acted in self defence.
Betteridge was once found now not responsible of murder following a 3 week trial however used to be convicted of manslaughter.
The court heard that Mr Hamilton and his buddies had assaulted Betteridge and his friend Lennie Hansen when the two groups clashed in The Square in Bournemouth, Dorset, at 1.30am on August 5.
During the scuffle Betteridge, from Portsmouth, picked up a kitchen knife Hansen had earlier dropped in a flowerbed for concern of being stuck with it via the police.
Harrowing CCTV photos displays Betteridge maintaining the knife while being chased via Mr Hamilton and two pals.
He then stopped, turned around and stabbed Mr Hamilton thrice.
After he and Hansen have been charged over the incident, a dialog between the pair was once recorded in a police van. Betteridge stated: ‘He banged me once at the wall and I simply shanked him, in his chest bruv…worst case I’ll be out in 12 years for manslaughter.’
John Price KC, prosecuting, advised Bournemouth Crown Court the struggle used to be sparked for ‘obscure’ causes when Mr Hamilton pushed Betteridge into the flowerbed.
Mr Price told the jury: ‘This was once a wholly useless and tragic end result of a acquainted and miserable tale of town centre violence.
‘Mr Hansen had taken a knife into Bournemouth and concealed it in the flowerbed as there was a top police presence.
‘What appeared an unremarkable come upon between two groups escalated for obscure reasons and Mr Hamilton pushed Mr Betteridge into a flowerbed, then his buddies began assaulting Mr Hansen.
‘Mr Betteridge retrieved the knife from the flowerbed and regardless of being asked to drop it, stabbed Mr Hamilton with it three times.
‘The first was once in his facet with no severe harm, but the second one wound on his chest used to be of such severity nothing could be completed to save him.’
The court heard Betteridge and Hansen ran away.
Mr Price added: ‘Mr (Wayne) Taylor, an off-duty security guard, stated he saw the male in grey turn to the male in blue and say ‘I sliced him up, I sliced him up.’
‘According to Mr Taylor, he mentioned it in an almost arrogant and proud approach and he used to be giggling a little bit.’
The court docket heard that Betteridge claimed one of Mr Hamilton’s buddies also had a knife. A 2d weapon used to be later retrieved near the scene.
Hansen, from Waterlooville, Hants, was once charged with aiding an perpetrator and was found now not accountable of the offence.
The family of Mr Hamilton have released a commentary saying they'll ‘all the time be really devastated’ at his loss.
They described him as a ‘loving, caring, intelligent and polite younger man’ and thanked everyone who have supported them since his dying.
READ MORE: Watch as police try to save mortally wounded guyThey stated: ‘We as a circle of relatives nonetheless remain and always will probably be, really devastated by the loss of our gorgeous Cam, we can by no means get over his life being so horribly taken from him. Our lives are modified without end.
from him. Our lives are modified endlessly.
‘Cam used to be liked by way of all that had the pleasure of knowing him. He was once a loving and worrying, intelligent, well mannered young guy with his complete lifestyles ahead of him.. He is overlooked so much by way of us all.
‘We thank all of the people which were there for us, helped and supported us thru essentially the most horrific time of our lives, we will be able to never overlook.
‘We would really like to publicly thank the next:
‘The police officers first on the scene who tried to save Cam’s lifestyles and the ambulance team who took over, we thanks so much for being with him.
‘The investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service for their laborious work from start to finish and all over the trial. Thank you for the consideration, professionalism and empathy you have all shown to Cam and our circle of relatives.
‘The circle of relatives liaison officials who have been with us from day one, you will have been wonderful.
‘And in the end, thanks to our barrister John Price KC, we could no longer have requested for anyone better to constitute Cam in court.’
Police mentioned that Mr Hamilton’s dying is the ‘starkest of reminders of the horrific penalties of knife crime’.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of the Dorset Police Major Crimes Investigation Team, mentioned: ‘Our ideas remain with the circle of relatives and buddies of Cameron Hamilton and not anything will ever make up for the devastating loss they have persevered as a result of what came about in the early hours of August 5, 2023.
‘I need to thank them sincerely for the dignified way they have got carried out themselves during the investigation and court procedure.
‘We have worked tirelessly to do all we will be able to to safe justice for Cameron’s family members and I need to thank all those concerned, from the officials who answered instantly on the evening to the investigation team and everyone else across the Force who equipped improve and helped safe proof.
‘I additionally want to thank the Crown Prosecution Service for their help in bringing this situation to courtroom.
‘Cameron’s tragic death by the hands of Thomas Betteridge is the starkest of reminders of the horrific consequences that may outcome from taking a knife out onto the streets and we will be able to continue to work with our companions and communities to raise awareness and take action on knife crime.’
Andrew Gubbels, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, mentioned: ‘This case actually surprised Bournemouth and its surrounding communities to the core.
‘The CPS labored closely with Dorset Police to be certain the ones answerable for those heinous offences had been prosecuted.
‘Our thoughts stay firmly with Cameron’s family and we hope these convictions send the transparent message that violence involving knives has actually devastating consequences.’
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