Man convicted of manslaughter 'for second time'
Thomas Betteridge has been found guilty of manslaughter after the death of Cameron Hamilton
A man has been convicted of manslaughter for a second time after a teenager's death.
Thomas Betteridge, 20, was found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a bladed article in a public place after Cameron Hamilton was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth town centre on August 5, 2023.
At around 1.25am Dorset Police were informed of an incident in The Square, where a man had been stabbed. Officers and paramedics attended but Cameron, aged 18, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Betteridge was found in the town centre on the night Cameron was stabbed. He was arrested and charged with murder.
Betteridge, from Bournemouth, was convicted of manslaughter in March 2024, but the conviction was overturned after an appeal.
A retrial was held at Bournemouth Crown Court and Betteridge was convicted of manslaughter for a second time on Wednesday, February 4.
He will return to court to be sentenced on Friday, May 8.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of MCIT, 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.
“I also want to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and my investigation team, as well as all those others across the Force who have helped to secure this conviction.
“It is also important to acknowledge the efforts of officers who responded on the night, who were on the scene within moments of the fatal stabbing and were with Cameron in his final moments.”