Teenagers charged with murder at seaside resort appear in court
Kent police were called to the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown-on-Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey, shortly after 7pm on Sunday, following an altercation involving a small number of people.
Alexander Cashford, 49, was confirmed dead at the scene, with the force saying multiple injuries to his body were reported.
The three teenagers, all from London, are thought to have been on holiday in Kent at the time of the attack.
They were jointly charged with murder on Tuesday and appeared at Medway Magistrates on Wednesday afternoon.
The defendants were accompanied in the well of the court by their parents, while other family members watched from the public gallery.
Prosecuting, Dylan Bradshaw said: 'What we know is that Alexander Cashford, a 49-year-old male, shortly after 7pm on Sunday August 10, went to the beach area of Warden's Bay.
'About an hour and five mins later, he was pronounced dead – during that period, he was the subject of a violent assault.'
The attack is alleged to involve a glass bottle and rocks being thrown, the court heard.
The 16-year-old and 14-year-old both cried during the hearing while the 15-year-old looked at the floor, rocking slightly.
A 12-year-old girl, arrested on Tuesday in Basildon, Essex, is still in custody.
The girl and two boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been remanded into youth detention accommodation to appear on Thursday at Maidstone Crown Court.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Andy Burnham speaks out on taxi driver's £170 Manchester Airport fine
Andy Burnham has branded a taxi driver's £170 Manchester Airport fine 'harsh' and 'a little heavy-handed'. Cameras were installed at the Airport to automatically charge motorists earlier this year, removing the need for payment barriers so traffic can flow more smoothly. Drivers have until midnight the following day to pay the £5 drop-off or £6.40 pick-up fee. When it was rolled out in March, Sue West, Manchester Airport's landside operations director, said: 'We're always looking for ways to make our passengers' lives easier. READ MORE: Manchester mum on Cyprus holiday turns on fellow hotel guests READ MORE: Drug dealers targeting Brits in Tenerife arrested on strip where Jay Slater partied To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE 'By removing barriers in our drop-off and pick-up zones it will speed up the process and make it feel seamless – and it will stop people from going into more expensive pay brackets while they wait at the barriers.' But calling into the mayor's regular BBC Radio Manchester Neil, a private hire driver, said he registered his taxi and debit card to Manchester Airport's payment system, so drop-off fees he is charged while working are paid automatically. However, Neil told listeners he upgraded his taxi to a new car and forgot to update the registration plate on Manchester Airport's system. He didn't notice his mistake before the payment cut-off, so was issued a £100 fine. But Neil said the first letter 'went astray' and debt collectors have now contacted him demanding £170. Mayor Andy Burnham said the approach was 'a little heavy-handed' and revealed his office has had complaints about the new system. 'It's a system I do not control,' he said. 'It feels harsh in some ways, given they know you as an operator. 'I know there are other complaints about the system. I feel we need to work with the Airport so everyone understands the system. I think some people have been in a position where the change has come in and they know about it.' Manchester Airport was contacted for comment.
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Britain's rights watchdog warns against heavy-handed policing amid Gaza demos
Britain's human rights watchdog has warned against 'heavy-handed policing' which it said risks a 'chilling effect' on protest rights amid recent demonstrations about the war in Gaza. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to remind them that the 'right to protest is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy'. The letter, from EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner, raised concerns about 'reports of police engagement with individuals participating in forms of protest that are not linked to any proscribed organisation'. The commission referenced a report by the Guardian newspaper about a woman said to have been threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide'. The woman was reportedly told by police that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, in July expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, an organisation which has been banned by the Government. The woman said neither of her signs mentioned Palestine Action and that she had told police she did not support any proscribed organisations. Baroness Falkner said any interference with protest rights 'must be lawful and assessed case-by-case'. She added: 'Heavy-handed policing or blanket approaches risk creating a chilling effect, deterring citizens from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly through fear of possible consequences. 'This concern extends beyond those directly affected by police engagement to the broader health of our democracy, because the perception that peaceful protest may attract disproportionate police attention undermines confidence in our human rights protections.' The EHRC said Government and police authorities must 'ensure that all officers receive clear and consistent guidance on their human rights obligations' when it comes to protests. 'This guidance should ensure that the appropriate balance is maintained between public safety and the protection of essential human rights,' Baroness Falkner added. Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK Government in July, with the ban meaning that membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. More than 500 people were arrested last weekend on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed group, as demonstrations took place in central London. Downing Street has described Palestine Action as 'violent' and said it has committed 'significant injury' as well as criminal damage, adding that evidence and security assessments shared in closed court supported its proscription. Palestine Action said Downing Street's accusations were 'false and defamatory' and 'disproven by the Government's own intelligence assessment'.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Woman in her 80s fighting for life after being hit by car
A woman in her 80s is fighting for her life in hospital after being hit by a car in Oxfordshire. The incident occurred at around noon yesterday (Thursday, August 14) when a traffic collision occurred on Spring Road in Abingdon. A pedestrian was struck by a car and was then rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital via an air ambulance with "life-threatening injuries". Spring Road, which is in the centre of the town, was closed by Thames Valley Police (TVP) and stayed that way for hours as officers investigated. READ MORE: LIVE: Crash on border sees police attend and causes 45 minute delays A police car at the taped-off scene in Abingdon on Thursday. (Image: Newsquest) A spokesperson for the force yesterday said: 'We can confirm that Spring Road in Abingdon is currently shut. 'It will be shut for a few hours while we undertake investigative work. This follows a road traffic collision that occurred around noon today. 'One person is en route to the John Radcliffe Hospital after receiving life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made at this time.' Now, in an update today (Friday, August 15), officers confirmed that the victim is a woman aged in her 80s. READ MORE: Teens identified by police amid criminal damage probe in city Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get: Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app The force also revealed that the victim remains in hospital with her condition still serious following the collision. And just like yesterday's update, no arrests have been made as of yet. A spokesperson for TVP added: "She is still in a serious condition in hospital. "No arrests have been made at this time."
