Southsea and Waterlooville males slammed over “senseless” decision to bring knife on night out used to kill

Two males from Southsea and Waterlooville have been slammed over the “senseless” decision to bring a knife on a night out that was used to kill a teenager. 
By Steve Deeks
Published 6th Apr 2024, 12:46 BST
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Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Pictured: Cameron Hamilton Picture: Dorset Police Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Pictured: Cameron Hamilton Picture: Dorset Police
Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Pictured: Cameron Hamilton Picture: Dorset Police

Cameron Hamilton, 18, was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth town centre by Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, during the early hours of Saturday 5 August, 2023.

Betteridge was found guilty at the Bournemouth Crown Court trial of manslaughter and possessing a bladed article. He was cleared of murder. He was sentenced to nine years jail with an extended licence period of a further three years. Lennie Hansen, 18,  of Waterlooville, is due to be sentenced on Friday 3 May after admitting a charge of possessing a bladed article.

Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, who has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. The teenager had claimed he had acted in self-defence, and he was cleared by the jury of Mr Hamilton's murder. Picture credit: Dorset Police Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, who has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. The teenager had claimed he had acted in self-defence, and he was cleared by the jury of Mr Hamilton's murder. Picture credit: Dorset Police
Thomas Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, Hampshire, who has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Cameron Hamilton and possessing a bladed article following a 21-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. The teenager had claimed he had acted in self-defence, and he was cleared by the jury of Mr Hamilton's murder. Picture credit: Dorset Police
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The fatal incident occurred around 1.25am after an altercation in The Square between the defendants and Mr Hamilton and his group of friends. Police arrived on the scene seconds after Cameron had been stabbed by Betteridge.

But despite the efforts of officers and paramedics who subsequently attended, Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene. Betteridge and Hansen were subsequently located and arrested in the area of the Lower Gardens.

Detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) led the investigation and enquiries revealed Hansen had brought the knife with him to Bournemouth on the night of the incident and had hidden it behind a bench due to the heavy police presence in the vicinity.

After an altercation broke out in The Square involving the defendants and Cameron’s group of friends, Betteridge retrieved the knife and used it to stab his victim.

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