Teenager found guilty of murdering boy at NYE event

An 18-year-old has been found guilty of murdering Harry Pitman, who was stabbed to death at a New Year's Eve event in north London.

Areece Lloyd-Hall was convicted at the Old Bailey of killing the 16-year-old at Primrose Hill on 31 December 2023.

Following a retrial, Lloyd-Hall, from Westminster, was found guilty of murder by a majority of 11 to one after almost eight hours of deliberation. He had already been convicted of possessing an offensive weapon at a previous trial.

The fatal stabbing took place after Harry accidentally bumped into another boy while "play-fighting" and practising high kicks, the jury was told.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC told jurors during the trial that "revelry turned to tragedy in the blink of an eye" that night.

Harry and Lloyd-Hall were strangers who had each gone to watch the fireworks with separate groups of friends.

Earlier that evening, Special Constable David Smith said Harry had seemed excitable and "physically bounced" up to him for a friendly chat before "fist bumping" another reveller nearby.