LAWFUEL – The Law Newswire – Police investigating the murder of 16 y/o Ben Hitchcock in Beckenham in June have announced a reward of £10,000 is available for any information leading to the arrest and prosecution of his killer or killers.
Ben was stabbed in the course of a street fight between two groups of youths in Southend Road on Saturday 23 June.
The fight is believed to have started over a private party in Copers Cope Road. A small group of youths tried to gain entry but had no tickets and were turned away.
The party then finished. We believe calls for help were made and as the partygoers entered the street, other youths arrived, bringing the total to around 40.
By 2300 the fighting had spilled over into Southend Lane. Police were called by a number of residents concerned at the disturbance. They arrived to find Ben suffering from stab wounds.
He was taken to University Hospital Lewisham but was pronounced dead on arrival. A post mortem gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the abdomen.
The incident is being investigated by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, based at Lewisham.
DCI Dave Garwood said the team has used various tactics to reach young people in the area to try and identify eye witnesses to the stabbing.
He said: “We have used websites such as Gone Too Soon. Last week we visited a local youth club – Streetwise – frequented by Ben. We are certain that someone knows who used the knife that killed Ben. We need to hear from them, for the sake of Ben’s family and many friends.”
In the hours following the murder, officers arrested 13 boys and one girl, their ages ranging from 14 to 16 yrs. Subsequently, a further five young men have been arrested. They are all due back on police bail on 8 August.
Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 020 8721 4961; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
