A young male teenager who allegedly enticed a 49-year-old man he accused of being a pedophile to a beach has admitted to manslaughter.
The victim, Alexander Cashford, an electrician from Kent, was discovered unconscious in mud with severe head and facial injuries in Leysdown-on-Sea on the Isle of Sheppey on August 10. He was declared deceased at the scene. At Woolwich Crown Court, a 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 15 and 16, are facing trial for the death of Mr. Cashford. All three have denied the murder charge.
In recent developments, the 16-year-old boy, whose identity is protected by law, confessed to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Conversely, the 16-year-old girl and the 15-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter accusation.
According to testimonies, Mr. Cashford had exchanged contact information with the girl, using the alias Sienna, after meeting her at an arcade on August 8. Subsequently, they communicated and agreed to meet at the sea wall on August 10.
Upon meeting the girl, Mr. Cashford and she strolled along the shore, with the two teenage boys trailing behind. Allegedly, the 16-year-old boy grabbed an empty glass bottle at one point during their encounter.
Law enforcement discovered a video on the 16-year-old boy’s phone wherein the girl is purportedly heard shouting derogatory remarks towards Mr. Cashford and urging the boy to harm him. The video allegedly depicts the boy striking Mr. Cashford with the glass bottle and throwing rocks at him while he was on the ground.
After the incident, the 16-year-old boy allegedly shared video footage of the assault with three individuals, accompanied by a caption containing derogatory language.
The trial proceedings are ongoing.