Adam Vaitilingam KC and Emma Martin prosecuted Joshua Delbono for the killing of Radstock 16 year old, Charley Bates. It was yet another case involving the fatal use of a knife in fights between teenagers, this time over a trivial dispute. Delbono claimed that he was acting in self defence and didn’t intend to cause serious harm. However, after a trial lasting two weeks, he was yesterday found guilty of murder and sentenced to custody for life.
Six of Charley’s teenage friends gave evidence at trial with the aid of special measures and the assistance of dedicated support workers. The jury heard that Delbono was arrested after his mother had called 999 and told police that her son had killed someone. The murder weapon was never recovered; Delbono was to say at trial that he had thrown it into Shearwater Lake. Three people charged with assisting an offender will face trial later this year.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/joshua-delbono-charley-bates-murder-b2317926.html
