Teenager jailed for nine years for stabbing 18-year-old to death in Bournemouth

An 18-year-old has been jailed for nine years for the manslaughter of another 18-year-old who he stabbed to death during a fight in Bournemouth town centre.

Thomas Betteridge, of Southsea, Hampshire, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The teenager had claimed he had acted in self-defence and he was cleared by the jury of Mr Hamilton’s murder.

Lennie Hansen, also 18, of Waterlooville, was convicted of possessing a bladed article, which related to him bringing the 12.5cm knife that Betteridge used for the fatal stabbing and he is to be sentenced next month.

Hamilton suffered a fatal stab wound to his chest during the altercation, which took place in The Square in the Dorset seaside resort at about 1.25am on August 5 2023.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Despite the efforts of officers – who were on the scene within seconds of the fatal stabbing – and paramedics who subsequently attended, Cameron was very sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

The court was told a witness had described Betteridge telling Hansen in a “boastful way” that he had “sliced up” the victim and had “shanked him”.

Betteridge was sentenced to nine years in a young offender institution with an extended license period of three years.

Judge William Mousley KC said that the defendant had been drunk and affected by cocaine when the fatal incident happened and said: “I have concluded the use of the knife was wholly unnecessary in the face of the threat he felt.”

He added: “Cameron Hamilton was a much-loved family member with a large circle of friends. He was popular and he had his whole adult life ahead of him.

“His death and the way it happened has a huge ever-lasting impact on those who knew him and leaves a void in their lives.

“The effect of the lengthy sentence you are to receive is small in comparison.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Hamilton’s mother, Sarah Robinson, said: “Cam did not deserve to die that day and my family do not deserve to be without him, the defendants will one day be released from prison and get to live a life but we, Cam’s family, are the ones with a true life sentence.”

In a statement released after Betteridge’s conviction, Mr Hamilton’s family said: “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.

“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.”

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third said: “Cameron’s tragic death at the hands of Thomas Betteridge is the starkest of reminders of the horrific consequences that can result from taking a knife out onto the streets.”