Mitcham: A 17-year-old youth faces life behind bars after being found guilty at the Old Bailey on Thursday of the murder of a teenager at Hampton Court station.

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

Trainee landscape gardener, Steven Hill, 17, from Hurtwood Road, Walton, died from a single stab wound after a fight involving a group of youths at Hampton Court station car park on June 30. He was taken to hospital but, despite doctors' efforts, 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 do 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 open court the period of years that I consider should be served before any application by him can be considered by the parole board for early release.

"Therefore, I will adjourn this matter for a pre-sentence report so that I can have as much information before me as I can."

The verdict was the culmination of six months' investigation by Surrey Police and British Transport Police.

DCI Bob Crampton, deputy head of major crime for Surrey Police, who led the investigation, said: "The knife that was used in the attack on Steven Hill is a vicious weapon which was purchased over the counter by a 16-year-old boy.

"In my view, until such time as there is formal regulation over the sale of hand knives and similar weapons, tragedies such as this will continue to happen. There are no winners in this situation at all. It's an absolute tragedy for all concerned. But, to an extent, I hope this will soften the blow that Steven's family are feeling right now.

"The convicted youth's family and friends will also be devastated. It is an all-round tragedy."

December 27, 2001 23:30