A harrowing murder trial at Woolwich Crown Court has been shown video footage allegedly depicting the fatal attack on a 49-year-old man by teenagers who claimed he was a paedophile.
Guilty Plea to Manslaughter
In a significant development on Thursday, a 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Alexander Cashford. The electrician from Kent was found with severe head and face injuries on a beach in Leysdown-on-Sea, Isle of Sheppey, on 10 August last year.
However, the same teenager, along with a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, continues to deny a charge of murder. The two younger defendants have also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter.
The Fatal Encounter on the Beach
The court heard that events were set in motion on 8 August when Mr Cashford met the teenage girl at an amusement arcade and gave her his phone number. Posing under the fake name 'Sienna', the girl and the two boys then exchanged messages with Mr Cashford, arranging to meet him by the sea wall two days later.
On the evening of 10 August, Mr Cashford met the girl as planned, and they walked along the seafront. Unbeknownst to him, the two teenage boys followed behind. Prosecutors told jurors that the 16-year-old boy picked up an empty glass bottle during this walk.
Video Evidence Presented to Jury
Central to the prosecution's case is a video recording discovered on the 16-year-old boy's mobile phone. The court was told the footage was filmed by the girl. In the video, she is heard shouting, "f****** paedophile, I’m f****** 16" and "Get him".
The footage allegedly shows the 16-year-old boy shouting while holding the glass bottle, before striking Mr Cashford on the back of the head with it and swinging it at his upper body. This video was shown to the jury during the trial.
Jurors heard that as the boys gave chase, Mr Cashford fell onto a stone floor. Witnesses described the 16-year-old boy then throwing large rocks at Mr Cashford’s "already seemingly lifeless body and head".
In a damning postscript, prosecutors stated that after his arrest, the 16-year-old boy shared footage of the assault with three contacts, accompanying it with the caption: "f***** pedo (sic) up lol".
The trial at Woolwich Crown Court continues.
