A 17-year-old youth faces life behind bars after being found guilty of the murder of a Walton teenager at the Old Bailey last Thursday, following a fight involving a gang from St Helier.

The youth from Mitcham, who cannot be named, will be sentenced on January 25. The jury took six hours to unanimously find the boy guilty.

Steven Hill, 17, from Hurtwood Road, a trainee landscape gardener, died from a single stab wound after the fight broke out at Hampton Court station car park on June 30. He was taken to hospital but despite doctors' efforts, he died from the wound which had pierced his heart.

The judge Justice Ann Goddard QC told the court she had a very serious task in sentencing someone so young.

She said: "When any defendant is convicted of murder the sentence is custody for life. Because of the defendant's age, I have a duty to state in court the period of years I consider should be served before any application can be considered by the parole board for early release. I will adjourn this matter for a pre-sentence report so I can have as much information before me as I can."

The verdict was the culmination of six months' investigation by Surrey and British transport police.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Crampton, who led the investigation, said: "The knife used in the attack on Steven Hill is a vicious weapon which was purchased over the counter by a 16-year-old boy. Until there is a formal regulation over the sale of knives and similar weapons, tragedies like this will continue to happen."

None of the group was charged in connection with the incident.

December 31, 2001 11:00