Three teenagers are currently being tried for the murder of Alexander Cashford, a 49-year-old electrician from Kent. The incident took place on August 10 in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey. The accused individuals include a 16-year-old boy who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for luring Cashford to the beach before his death.
The trial at Woolwich Crown Court revealed that Cashford was found with severe head and face injuries in the mud. The other two defendants, a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, deny the murder charge. The girl had exchanged messages with Cashford under a fake name, arranging to meet him at the sea wall after he gave her his number at an amusement arcade.
During the meeting, the girl and Cashford walked along the seafront while the two boys followed. Evidence presented in court includes a video recorded on the 16-year-old boy’s phone, allegedly showing the girl inciting violence against Cashford. The video depicts the boy hitting Cashford with a glass bottle.
Witnesses testified that the boys chased Cashford, causing him to fall and sustaining further injuries from rocks thrown by the 16-year-old boy. Prosecutors claim the boy shared footage of the attack with others, accompanied by disturbing comments. The trial is ongoing as the investigation continues.