Teenager convicted of 15 year old Jay Hughes murder in Bellingham

A teenager has been convicted of stabbing 15-year-old Jay Hughes to death outside a chicken shop in Bellingham last November.

A 17-year old from the Penge area of London, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of Jay’s murder yesterday at the Old Bailey.

The court heard how on November 1 2018, Jay was waiting for a friend outside a chicken shop in Randlesdown Road, Bellingham when a black Ford Galaxy pulled up to the junction of Brookhowse Road with Randlesdown Road and three males, armed with large machete type knives got out.

Two of the men chased a young man that Jay was speaking with but the defendant approached Jay who had remained outside the chicken shop and stabbed him once in the left hand side of his upper body.

A witness later told police they heard the person who stabbed Jay say, “I got one” and that Jay did not say or do anything to provoke the attack.

After stabbing Jay, the suspect ran back towards to vehicle and the other two armed suspects who had chased, but not caught, the other boy then ran back to the car, which reversed and drove off at speed.

After being stabbed, Jay staggered into the chicken shop, where customers began first aid.

He was taken to Kings College Hospital, however the stab wound had pierced Jay’s heart and despite every effort he was pronounced dead at 20:15hrs.

A post-mortem examination held at Greenwich Mortuary on Sunday, 4 November, gave the cause of death was given as a single stab wound to the heart.

CCTV from the chicken shop captured the car used by the defendant; this was located on Linden Grove, on Monday, 5 November where forensic analysis found Jay’s blood present in the back seat of the vehicle.

The defendant was arrested in Gravesend, Kent, on December 10 after an officer recognised him as he walked along the street.

On arrest, a large hunting knife was found in the waistband of his trousers and he was further arrested for possession of a bladed article.

He will be sentenced on Friday, 2 August.

Detective Inspector David Hillier from the Met’s Homicide Command said: “Jay Hughes was just a 15-year-old child who was simply waiting for a friend and planning to spend the evening at a youth club; this could have been anyone’s child that evening. What Jay did not know, was that at that moment the defendant had armed himself with a knife and set out with others to do violence.

“Jay was talking to a friend when the events unfolded around him. Witnesses later told police he did nothing to provoke the attack, he did not even run. I doubt Jay really understood what was happening in front of him.

“The defendant wickedly approached and stabbed a defenceless child through the heart. A witness heard him boast that he had ‘got one’ and I am at loss to understand how anyone could crow about such a despicable act.

“The defendant then fled the scene, leaving a dying child and a family that has been devastated by a loss that is beyond imagining. However, we were determined to bring the person responsible for Jay’s murder to justice.

“The defendant was tracked down and arrested. Even after all the horror he inflicted with a weapon, a large hunting knife was found in the waistband of his trousers, even after stabbing a young child to death. The defendant throughout the trail denied his involvement claiming he did not know where he was that day. The jury saw through this and found him guilty of this heinous act. Even at the verdict, the defendant did not show any remorse.

“My heart goes out to Jay’s family and I can only hope that this guilty verdict will help in some small way.

“Lastly I would also like thank those people who came to Jay’s aid. Many people came to Jay’s aid that night and it is important that when wickedness has been done, the good that lies within a community is not forgotten.”