BECKENHAM: Case dropped against youth accused of Ben Hitchcock murder (From News Shopper)

BECKENHAM: Case dropped against youth accused of Ben Hitchcock murder

3:31pm Thursday 5th November 2009

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A YOUTH accused of murdering 16-year-old Ben Hitchcock has had the case against him dropped.

The Old Bailey heard today (Nov 5) the case against Royston Thomas, aged 19, of Hazel Grove, Sydenham, has been discharged as there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

Ben Hitchcock was stabbed to death during a fight in Southend Road, Beckenham, in June 2007.

It happened shortly after his Penge Block gang tried to gatecrash a party attended by rival Lewisham gang members.

Four teenagers went on trial earlier this year accused of murdering Ben.

Andre Lawrence-Bennett, aged 18, of Brownhill Road, Catford, and 19-year-old Mitchell Elliott, of Howerd Way, Woolwich, were acquitted at the Old Bailey on July 7.

Part way through the trial Olatunji Olulu, aged 18, of Firhill Road, Catford, was found not guilty of murder due to lack of evidence.

Thomas was ruled unfit to continue with the trial after a sudden bereavement.

He had been due to stand trial again this month.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “As with all prosecutions, this case was subject to a review in preparation for the trial.

“During the course of this review it became apparent there was no longer sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

“This is a key test which must be met and so the decision was made to discontinue the case against Royston Thomas.”

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