Man guilty of killing teenager in town centre

A man has been found guilty of killing a teenager who was stabbed to death in a town centre.

Cameron Hamilton, 18, died after a late-night altercation in The Square in Bournemouth in August 2023.

Thomas Betteridge was found guilty of his manslaughter and of possessing a bladed article in a public place following a second trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He was previously convicted of manslaughter in March 2024 and sentenced to nine years, however the conviction was overturned following an appeal, leading to the retrial.

Hamilton, from Bournemouth, died at the scene of the stabbing despite the efforts of police and paramedics.

Betteridge was located and arrested in the town centre on the same night, Dorset Police said.

He was charged and later cleared of murdering Hamilton after claiming self-defence.

Det Ch Insp Neil Third, of the major crime investigation team, said: "I hope this conviction offers some comfort to Cameron's family, who have continued to conduct themselves in a dignified and supportive manner throughout the further court process they have had to endure.

"Despite the unimaginable grief they will have experienced at losing their loved one at such a young age, they have continued to campaign to raise awareness of the tragic consequences of knife crime and made a real difference in the local community through their Changes Are Made charity.

"We will continue to support them and work with all our partners to raise awareness of knife crime and take robust action against offenders."

In a statement released after the original verdicts, Hamilton's family said he was "loved by all that had the pleasure of knowing him".

"He was a loving and caring, intelligent, polite young man with his whole life ahead of him. He is missed so much by us all.

"We as a family still remain and always will be, truly devastated by the loss of our beautiful Cam, we will never get over his life being so horribly taken from him. Our lives are changed forever."

Betteridge will be sentenced on 8 May.