On February 4, 2026, Thomas Betteridge, 20, was found guilty of manslaughter and of possessing a bladed article in a public place following a retrial over a fatal incident in Bournemouth, Dorset. Betteridge was convicted for the second time in relation to the death of 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton, which occurred during a fight in the town centre.
The case returned to Bournemouth Crown Court after an earlier conviction in March 2024 was overturned on appeal. Local reporting and court coverage say the fatal stabbing took place in Bournemouth Square in the early hours of August 5, 2023.
Prosecutors told jurors that Betteridge picked up a knife during a brawl between two groups of men and stabbed the teenager, inflicting a fatal wound. The defendant said he had acted in self-defence, but trial evidence — including witness and CCTV accounts reported in court — included claims he was heard shortly afterwards saying, “I sliced him up, I sliced him up.”
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, described Cameron’s death as “the starkest of reminders of the horrific consequences that can result from taking a knife out on to the streets.” The victim’s family have remained involved throughout the legal process and paid tribute to him after the verdict.
Betteridge remains in custody ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for May 8, 2026. Authorities and local leaders have said the case highlights the ongoing need for community safety work and knife-crime prevention measures.
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