Latest news with #LutonCrownCourt
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Teen guilty of killing 17-year-old at bus station
A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a 17-year-old at a bus Ndenkeh, 19, was found guilty of murdering Thomas Taylor, who died after being stabbed in Bedford in January, at Luton Crown Court earlier. Ndenkeh had previously admitted to possessing a Miah, 18, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter. She'ma Dixon, 18, was found not guilty of murder, as was a 17-year-old boy who cannot be identified because of his jury could not reach a verdict for 18-year-old Ahmed Adam, who was also accused of will take place at Luton Crown Court on 10 October. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- BBC News
Youth kicked teen at Bedford bus station, murder trial hears
A teenager who kicked at another youth while he was on the ground has told a murder trial how he did not want to "look like a coward".She'ma Dixon, 18, is one of five teenagers from Bedford who deny murdering 17-year-old Thomas Taylor near the town's bus station on 8 Dixon, of Baldur Close in the town, told jurors that he did not "intend to cause any harm", the trial at Luton Crown Court has died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street just before 18:00 GMT in what prosecutors have said was a planned attack following an earlier incident. Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC previously told the trial that Thomas was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in the pedestrianised Mr Dixon, the following all deny murder:Ahmed Adam, 18, of Mardale CloseBennett Ndenkeh, 19, of Midland RoadRiaz Miah, 18, whose address prosecutors just gave as BedfordA 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age 'Ran away' Jurors have seen CCTV footage showing a group of young males running through the bus station ahead of Thomas being attacked on the ground by a number of Dixon, who was 17 at the time, could be seen running towards the group and kicking at and others, are then seen running away."I threw a half-hearted kick," Mr Dixon told jurors."I didn't want to look like a coward."I kicked at the person on the floor. I ran away. I just wanted to get out of there." The prosecution barrister has told the trial that footage showed Thomas being stabbed by Mr Ndenkeh - and stamped on by Dixon, who said he did not know Thomas, told jurors: "I didn't see any weapons. I didn't intend to cause any harm."He added that he wanted to "see what was happening" and was "following my co-d's [co-defendants]". Mr Heywood has said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr Miah and the attack on Thomas was "deliberate". Judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has told jurors they should finish hearing evidence later on Wednesday. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- BBC News
Flitwick man charged with attempted murder after stabbing
A man has been charged with attempted murder after another man was left with life-threatening injuries. Bedfordshire Police was called to reports of a stabbing in The Hawthorns, Flitwick at about 22:50 BST on 17 July. Emergency services attended and a man in his 30s was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition. David Butler, 60, of The Hawthorns, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He appeared at Luton Magistrates' court on Monday and was remanded into custody and is due at Luton Crown Court on 18 August. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
Drug dealer jailed after texting police by mistake
A drug dealer who mistakenly texted a police officer about his latest illicit offerings has been jailed. Jack Johannesen, 23, from Stirling Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, was found guilty in Luton Crown Court on 18 July of two counts of dealing cannabis and one additional count of breaching bail conditions. He was sentenced to two years and 10 months. The 23-year-old was part of an organised crime group operating across Biggleswade and Sandy, dealing in cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin. On 25 October last year, officers carried out a search warrant at his home and arrested him on suspicion of supplying class B drugs. Multiple phones were recovered, including one he had smashed and discarded in the kitchen bin. Recovered phone data revealed he had contacted more than 400 numbers to arrange drug deals. Eight days after he was bailed, he sent out a group text advertising his new drug line using a newly-registered phone. Without realising, however, he sent the message to the phone of a police officer that had been at the initial warrant. Police returned to his address on 28 November and arrested him again for supplying class A and class B drugs. They seized a small quantity of cannabis, nearly £2,000 in cash, some high value designer goods and another phone hidden behind a wardrobe that rang during the search. Detective Constable Adam Geary, from the Bedfordshire Police Boson team, said: 'We know that residents in Biggleswade and Sandy have felt the knock-on effects of drug-dealing within its communities. 'Our community officers have been working alongside local residents to identify drug-dealing hotspots and target those fuelling the issue for their own illicit gain. 'It is vital that we continue to work together and make our communities an inhospitable place for drug-dealers such as Johannesen. 'Johannesen is now rightfully behind bars, and we urge anyone with information about other drug-related crimes to come forward so we can continue to secure convictions against others who seek to cause harm.'
BBC News
21-07-2025
- BBC News
Bedford man says he "didn't intend" to murder teenager
A 19-year-old man accused of killing a teenager "virtually in cold blood" has defended his Ndenkeh, 19, of Midland Road, Bedford, is one of five teenagers who deny murdering 17-year-old Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street, Bedford, just before 18:00 GMT on 8 January, a trial at Luton Crown Court Ndenkeh has told jurors he "didn't intend" to kill Thomas. Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC has told jurors that Thomas was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in a pedestrian street near a bus has told the trial "sudden" and "ugly" violence involving two groups of "young men" had broken Adam, 18, Mr Ndenkeh, Riaz Miah, 18, She'ma Dixon, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, have all pleaded not guilty to have heard two of the accused teenagers give evidence in their defence - a third is due to answer questions from barristers on judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has told jurors that they should finish hearing evidence on Wednesday. 'Cold Blood' Mr Heywood said CCTV showed Thomas being stabbed and stamped said footage showed Mr Ndenkeh stabbing Heywood told Mr Ndenkeh: "You murdered him in virtually cold blood."Mr Ndenkeh replied: "I didn't intend to."He said he been trying to protect a friend. Mr Heywood has told jurors how Thomas had been walking with two other youths near Bedford bus said the group was approached by members of a larger had been attacked, brought to the ground and fatally stabbed, Mr Heywood said youths involved had "fled" and passers by were "left to deal with the aftermath".Mr Heywood said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr suggested that Mr Miah had been assaulted by a youth associated with Thomas and the incident had become an "issue".Mr Heywood said the attack on Thomas was "deliberate". Mr Heywood has questioned Mr Ndenkeh over several hours at the suggested that Mr Ndenkeh carried a knife "every time" he went into Bedford - including on a visit to a job centre."When you went to the job centre you sat there with a 10-inch blade," Mr Heywood told Mr Heywood suggested, that on the day Thomas died, violence had been "planned"."You took the knife for violence - and you planned it," Mr Heywood suggested to Mr Ndenkeh."And that was to try to right Riaz Miah's humiliation."Mr Ndenkeh twice replied: "No" Mr Adam has told the trial that he "didn't carry knives".He said he was "keen" to see a fight take place on the day Thomas died - but said he had not "encouraged" added: "I have got no idea why anyone would take a weapon."I didn't have knives - I don't carry knives."He went on: "There was discussion of knives being involved." Mr Heywood has shown jurors photographs of the teenagers and told them where some of them lived in said Mr Adam lived in Mardale Close, Mr Ndenkeh, in Midland Road, and Mr Dixon, in Baldur Miah - and the 17-year-old boy - also lived in Bedford, he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
