Man found not guilty of murdering teenager

Eddie Kinuthia, 19, died after being stabbed near his home in July 2023

A man has been cleared of murdering a teenager after a judge found there was not enough evidence connecting him to the incident.

Paul Hayden, 22, was on trial at Bristol Crown Court for the murder of Eddie Kinuthia, 19, who was stabbed yards away from his home in the Grosvenor Road area of St Pauls, Bristol, on 21 July 2023.

On the judge's direction, the jury ruled on Monday that Mr Hayden is not guilty. Zacharia Talbert-Young's, 27, trial for the murder of Mr Kinuthia is continuing. He denies the charge.

Mr Hayden is still standing trial for the attempted murder of Nathan Williams, 19, and the intent to cause Mr Williams grievous bodily harm on 2 February 2024. He denies the charges.

A third man, Remi Hitchcock, 30, of Easton, is charged with assisting an offender in relation to the death of Mr Kinuthia. He also denies the charge.

Mr Kinuthia was attacked by two masked men dressed in black on an electric bike

Justice Pepperall told the jury there is "not sufficient" evidence to convict Mr Hayden of the killing.

CCTV footage of the night of the incident shows two masked men dressed in black on an electric bike.

The passenger, who was armed with a knife, got off the e-bike and attacked Mr Kinuthia, before the pair rode away. Mr Kinuthia later died in hospital.

Justice Pepperall told the jury that there is no evidence linking Mr Hayden to the e-bike.

"Accordingly, the prosecution cannot prove the offence of murder against Mr Hayden. As a matter of law, Mr Hayden must be found not guilty," Justice Pepperall said.

The trial continues.