Cameron Hamilton death: Teen sentenced over knife used in fatal stabbing

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Lennie HansenImage source, Dorset Police
Image caption,

Lennie Hansen, 18, brought the knife to the scene of the stabbing

A teenager has been given a 13-month custodial sentence for having a knife that was used to stab another teenager to death.

Cameron Hamilton, 18, died after a late-night altercation in The Square in Bournemouth in August 2023.

Lennie Hansen, 18, of Waterlooville, Hampshire, brought the knife that was used by the killer, Thomas Betteridge.

Hansen previously pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court to possession of a bladed article.

Image source, Dorset Police
Image caption,

Cameron Hamilton, 18, died in August 2023

Mr Hamilton was stabbed in the early hours of 5 August and died at the scene despite the efforts of police and paramedics.

Police said Hansen hid the 12.5cm (5in) knife behind a bench in The Square due to a large police presence in the area.

It was later picked up by Betteridge and used in the stabbing incident, detectives said.

Image source, Dorset Police
Image caption,

Thomas Betteridge was given a nine-year custodial sentence for manslaughter

In April, Betteridge, 18, of Southsea, was given a nine-year custodial sentence for manslaughter, after pleading self-defence.

Det Ch Insp Neil Third said: "This case is a further reminder of the message that we cannot stress enough, which is that no good whatsoever can come from carrying a knife."

The court said Hansen would serve his sentence at a young offenders institution.

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