Teenager from Southsea found guilty of manslaughter over death of man, 18, in Bournemouth

WATCH: ITV Meridian's Richard Slee reported on the trial from Bournemouth Crown Court.


A teenager from Southsea has been found guilty of the manslaughter of an 18-year-old man in Bournemouth last year.

On Friday, a jury ruled that Thomas Betteridge, 18, was not guilty of the murder of Cameron Hamilton, who died during a fight in Bournemouth town centre.

Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene following the altercation in the area of The Square at 1.26am on Saturday 5 August 2023.

During evidence, the court was shown CCTV footage of police officers chasing a group of youths through the town.

The video shows the moment before Betteridge, seen wearing grey clothing, turns on the men chasing him and stabs Cameron Hamilton.


WATCH: CCTV shows the moments before Cameron Hamilton was killed in Bournemouth town centre.


A short time afterwards, Betteridge and his friend Lennie Hansen, 18, also from Southsea, were detained by officers.

Betteridge was arrested and was put in the back of a police van, where he was then re-arrested for murder.

During the trial, the defence accepted that Betteridge had inflicted the fatal blow to Cameron - but claimed it was in self defence.

The prosecution had argued that although Cameron had started the fight, Betteridge had used excessive force by stabbing him three times.

A jury found Thomas Betteridge, 18, guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton. Credit: Dorset Police

A jury ruled that Hansen, was found not guilty of assisting an offender, although he had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

The two men are due to be sentenced in April.

Last summer, Cameron Hamilton's family issued the following tribute: "Cam is loved so much by his whole family, we ask that our privacy is respected at this devastating time. We have not lost our beautiful boy, he has been taken.

"We don't want this to be what Cam is remembered for, we want him to be remembered for the funny, kind and wonderful person he is and always will be.

"We would also like to thank all the police officers who attended the scene and were with Cam and all the people who have sent their condolences and wishes to the family."


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