Three teenagers have been convicted of causing the death of Alexander Cashford. The 49-year-old man was enticed to a beach on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent where he was assaulted with rocks and a bottle following accusations of being a paedophile.
In a verdict delivered at Leysdown-on-Sea, a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy were found guilty of manslaughter on August 10 last year. Another 16-year-old boy had previously admitted to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Although the trio was initially charged with Mr. Cashford’s murder, they were acquitted of this charge by jurors at Woolwich Crown Court.
Mr. Cashford was pursued and attacked with rocks and a bottle, leading to him being discovered face down in mud. Evidence presented in court revealed that the victim had exchanged contact information with the girl at an amusement arcade two days prior to the incident.
Identified by the alias Sienna, the teenagers corresponded with Mr. Cashford and arranged a meeting at the sea wall on August 10. The older male defendant confessed that he assaulted Mr. Cashford due to his belief that the authorities would not take action if they reported him for attempting to meet the girl.
Video footage from a mobile phone depicted the boy hitting Mr. Cashford with a bottle, with the intention to cause harm but not serious injury. Subsequently, the two male defendants pursued the victim while the girl shouted derogatory remarks about him.
During the attack, the older male defendant threw a large rock at Mr. Cashford, resulting in severe injuries. A post-mortem examination unveiled numerous injuries on the victim, including fractured ribs that had punctured his lung.
Forensic analysis revealed over 30 external injuries on Mr. Cashford’s body, with the pathologist highlighting chest injuries as the probable cause of death. The pathologist also noted rib fractures consistent with trauma rather than resuscitation efforts.
Additionally, injuries in protected areas of the body indicated non-accidental trauma, further supporting the prosecution’s case against the teenagers.
