Five teenagers sent to trial over the murder of a 17-year-old in Bedford
The men, aged between 16 and 19, pleaded not guilty to murdering the teenager
Last updated 14th Feb 2025
Five teenagers charged with the murder of a 17-year-old will be facing a trial after denying the the acts.
Thomas Taylor was fatally wounded in Greenhill Street, Bedford, at around 5.50pm on Wednesday, 8 January.
A post-mortem examination conducted a month ago today (Tuesday, 14 January) determined Thomas’s preliminary cause of death to be stab wounds.
They appeared at Luton Crown Court today via video link to plead not guilty.
Three of them, one aged 16 and the other two 17, currently held at Werrington Young Offender Institution, cannot be named for legal reasons.
The other two, 18-year-old Ahmed Adam and 19 year-old Bennett Ndenkeh, are being held at HMP Bedford.
All will be facing a trial on June 16.
Bedford Academy Headteacher, Chris Deller, previously paid tribute to Thomas and said: "We are deeply upset and shocked to hear the sad news that a Bedford Academy student has lost their life. Thomas was a popular, well liked, and respected lad who finished Year 11 with a strong set of results, before going on to study at Sixth form.
"Our focus now is on supporting the family through such a difficult period, whilst helping our students and wider community to come to terms with such a tragic loss."
An outpour of support and messages were left at the scene of Thomas' murders in following days, some reading 'taken too soon', 'rest easy my boy', or 'maybe gone but won't be forgotten'.
Flowers and candles were also placed on the ground.