Man jailed for manslaughter of Bournemouth teenager following retrial
Earlier this year Thomas Betteridge found guilty of manslaughter for the second time after original conviction was overturned on appeal
Last updated 8th May 2026
A 20-year-old man who fatally stabbed an 18-year-old in Bournemouth town centre has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter for the second time - after his original conviction was overturned on appeal.
Back in February this year (2026), a jury convicted Thomas Betteridge of manslaughter and possessing a bladed article in a public place in relation to the stabbing of Cameron Hamilton in the early hours of August 5th 2023.
He was previously convicted of manslaughter in March 2024 but the conviction was quashed leading to the retrial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
What happened?
At around 1.25am on Saturday 5 August 2023, officers in Bournemouth were made aware of an altercation taking place in the area of The Square.
It was subsequently reported that a man had sustained a suspected stab wound.
Despite the efforts of officers – who were on the scene within seconds of the fatal stabbing - and paramedics who subsequently attended, Cameron was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Our lives are changed forever"
Cameron's family previously said in a statement: "We as a family still remain and always will be, truly devastated by the loss of our beautiful Cam, we will never get over his life being so horribly taken from him. Our lives are changed forever.
"Cam was loved by all that had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a loving and caring, intelligent, polite young man with his whole life ahead of him. He is missed so much by us all."