Jury returns verdict on Southsea man who 'bragged' after knifing 18-year-old to death in fight
A jury has returned its verdict over a 20-year-old Southsea man who “bragged” after he fatally stabbed an 18-year-old man to death in Bournemouth town centre.
A jury has convicted Thomas Betteridge of manslaughter and possessing a bladed article in a public place in relation to the fatal stabbing of Cameron Hamilton in the early hours of August 5 2023.
He was previously convicted of manslaughter in March 2024 but the conviction was overturned on appeal leading to the retrial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Betteridge, of Southsea, was jailed for nine years in April 2024 but will be sentenced again on May 8 following the retrial verdicts.
John Price KC, prosecuting, told the retrial that during the incident, Betteridge had been pushed into a bush by Mr Hamilton before the defendant then stabbed him. He said the defendant then ran away, leaving a trainer behind at the scene, along with a second teenager.
The prosecutor said that Betteridge was heard by a witness to say: “I sliced him up, I sliced him up” and added that he had spoken the words “almost in a boastful and proud manner” and said that he was “laughing a little bit”.
He said that the second teenager also “let out a childish giggle”. Mr Price said that Betteridge then changed top and trainers with friends at the scene before he was stopped by police.
He said that Betteridge expressed “righteous indignation” at being stopped and searched by police, and filmed the officers using his mobile phone before posting the video on Instagram.
Mr Price said that Betteridge claimed that he acted in self-defence during the fatal incident, and stated it was something he regretted but “had to do as he believed it to be necessary to defend himself”.
He added: “It’s to be noted that the first thing that Mr Betteridge had done after the killing was to brag about it and the next thing he did in less than three minutes was to try and change his appearance.”
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third 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.”
Mr Hamilton’s family previously said in a statement: “Cam 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.”