Insight into a major TVP murder investigation, which put 5 criminals behind bars

Thames Valley Police have given us an insight into how a major murder investigation was carried out, following last week's sentencing of five men linked to the killing of a teenager in High Wycombe.

17-year-old Cameron Bailey, from West Sussex, was fatally stabbed in May 2023, his friend severely injured in the attack.

Crucial evidence helped Police link five suspects to a series of crimes which led to Cameron's murder, and the fatal act, with the main suspect Jayden Gubetini arrested last.

What happened?

On 6 May 2023, Gubetini travelled to High Wycombe, where he robbed Cameron and his friend of drugs. The incident went unreported at the time.

The following day, he returned with accomplices—Aaran Pattinson, Philip Solomon, and Scott Cordice—and committed another robbery in King’s Court, High Wycombe, during which Cameron was killed.

Despite paramedics’ efforts, Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death was a stab wound to the back. Cameron’s friend suffered a fractured skull, a head wound, and injuries to his hand requiring surgery.

How was the evidence found and pieced together?

Detective Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer within the Major Crime Unit, Stuart May, spoke to Greatest Hits Radio about the details of the investigation, which initially led to the arrest of four of the suspects.

He said: "In this investigation, I'll say the key piece of evidence that led to the convictions would be information from the public, certainly in the early stages of the investigation.

And receiving information regarding persons who may have been involved or may have knowledge of what happened, that information was critical, inform the decisions and actions taken early in the investigation to then use the evidence later at court, specifically CCTV evidence that really featured heavily at court trying to piece together the movements of the offenders.

"So through the CCTV we could show that the offenders had met prior to the offence, gone as a group to the offence location, we could see that they'd armed themselves with weapons and they'd also worn face coverings to hide their identities.

"We were then able to show them returning from the scene. Philip Solomon and Aaron Pattinson were captured discarding weapons, so that footage also helped us target our searches."

Thanks to the footage, police were able to recover the discarded hammer and bold croppers, which further led to forensic evidence matching the weapons to the crime scene.

DI May added: "We had some good forensic evidence in this investigation as well.

"There were glass samples that were found in the clothing of one of the defendants, Scott Cordice. That glass sample matched the glass from the window that had been smashed by the hammer used by Aaron Pattinson. And similarly, the scientists found the glass in the hammer that was used."

The forensic evidence was crucial to convince a jury in court of the defendants' implication in the crime."

How was the last and main suspect found?

Jayden Gubetini, 18, took the longest time to identify and locate.

Thanks to communication with neighbouring forces, The Met Police was able to name the suspect.

In the early stages, his location was still unknown. However international police coordination led to his arrest on the European continent almost two months later.

DI May said: "Gubetini not being identified until later was troubling because we strongly suspected that he was a principal offender.

"I was actually contacted by Interpol in the evening of the 13th of June, so over a month after the incident, and informed that he had been detained in the Netherlands.

"We had known at that point that he had travelled abroad, so there was a lot of hard work that followed to get him back to the UK that involves liaison with international colleagues and the CPS, because we have to get the correct authorities in place to extradite someone back to the UK.

"What the delay meant was that there was a risk that he might not be returned in time to join the existing trial.

"Fortunately for us, he was extradited on the 5th of July and put immediately before the court, and we were able to join the cases together. So there was just one trial."

Advice issued by TVP

This trial heard that the five men - Jayden Gubetini, Aaran Pattinson, Philip Solomon, Scott Cordice and Marlon Cato - were jailed for their involvement in the murder, GBH, robbery and drug offences.

Issuing advice, DI Stuart May said: "If you're worried that someone close to you is becoming involved in drug supply, speak up, ask for help. We can stop them being drawn in and exposed to those risks.

"For those that do carry a weapon, we have a robust criminal justice response.

"We know for some young people there is a fear that is driving them to carry weapons. And they think carrying a knife will give them protection, but it won't. And as we see it, too often ends in tragedy. So the advice would be is if you are worried about someone who may be carrying a weapon, talk to the police.

"We can help keep them and everyone else safe."

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