Killer sentenced for stabbing of teen in Bournemouth town centre
Cameron Hamilton was attacked in Bournemouth Square
Last updated 5th Apr 2024
A man who stabbed an 18-year-old man to death during an argument in Bournemouth town centre has been sentenced to 12 years in a young offenders' institution.
Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Albert Road in Portsmouth, was found guilty of manslaughter following a three-week trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
He was found not guilty of murder.
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."
Police were called to an altercation in Bournemouth Square in the early hours of 5 August 2023, where Mr Hamilton had been stabbed.
Lennie Hansen, aged 18 and of Waterlooville, is due to be sentenced on Friday 3 May 2024 after admitting a charge of possessing a bladed article.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Cam'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."
Following the manslaughter verdict, 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 of Dorset's Major Crime Investigation Team said:
“The extremely sad death of Cameron Hamilton is another shocking demonstration of the truly devastating consequences of someone choosing to carry a knife and another young man’s senseless decision to use it.
“We remain steadfastly committed to doing all we can to work with our partners and communities to raise awareness of the awful impact of knife crime and take firm action against those found to be carrying knives on our streets.
“Our thoughts will remain with the family and friends of Cameron Hamilton, who have suffered the most unimaginable loss as a result of this heinous crime, and I again want to thank them for the support they have given throughout the investigation and court process as well as the dignified way they have conducted themselves throughout what must have been an extremely difficult few months.”