BECKENHAM: Police reveal knife used to kill Ben Hitchcock (From News Shopper)

BECKENHAM: Police reveal knife used to kill Ben Hitchcock

8:20am Tuesday 17th November 2009

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POLICE have revealed the knife used to kill 16-year-old Ben Hitchcock as detectives appeal for fresh witnesses to come forward.

Ben, from Penge, died after being stabbed during a fight in Southend Road, Beckenham, on June 23, 2007.

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

Earlier this month the case against a fourth youth accused of Ben’s murder - Royston Thomas, aged 19, of Hazel Grove, Sydenham - was dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

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

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

Now police are urging people to come forward with new information as they continue investigations into the stabbing.

At the murder scene, officers found these three knives, one of which was the murder weapon.

Detective Inspector Stewart Kingston said: “We found we could purchase a pack of these knives for £2.97.

“We think someone has bought packs of these knives and dished them out on the night.

“It’s alarming you can buy a pack of knives for that price and cause carnage on the streets of London.”

Mr Kingston said he was hoping to hear from either people who saw the incident but have not come forward or someone who may have heard Ben’s killer confess.

Around 50 to 60 people were involved in the fight and Mr Kingston admits there are “quite a few” police have not been able to trace.

He said: “It’s nearly Christmas. Ben Hitchcock’s family are still grieving over their loss and we’ve got a murderer who’s at home with his family at the moment thinking he’s got off scot free.”

If you have any information on the murder call police on 020 8721 4961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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