TWO teenagers have been cleared of murdering 16-year-old Ben Hitchcock.

Andre Lawrence-Bennett, aged 18, of Brownhill Road, Catford, and 19-year-old Mitchell Elliott, of Howerd Way, Woolwich, were acquitted at the Old Bailey this morning.

Ben's mum Lee cried when the verdicts were announced, while friends and family of the defendants cheered in the public gallery.

Ben, of Blean Grove, Penge, was stabbed during a fight on June 23, 2007, after he and friends from the Penge Block gang tried to gatecrash a party attended by rival Lewisham gang members.

His kidney was punctured when he was stabbed in the back during the brawl in Southend Road, Beckenham.

He died in hospital early the next morning.

During the five-week trial, Elliott admitted lying to police about his whereabouts on the evening Ben was killed.

After initially claiming he was not in the area he later told officers he was there but was the victim of an unprovoked attack.

Meanwhile, Lawrence-Bennett, who had been accused of riding up to Ben on a BMX bike and stabbing him, was acquitted after 20 eyewitnesses said they did not even see a bike.

Royston Thomas, aged 19, of Hazel Grove, Sydenham, also denies murder.

He was declared unfit to continue with this trial last week and has been bailed until November 16 when he will stand trial again.

Olatunji Olulu, aged 18, of Firhill Road, Catford, who was charged with Ben's murder, was acquitted mid-trial due to a lack of evidence.