A trial at Woolwich Crown Court has heard that a teenage girl, along with two boys, are accused of the murder of Alexander Cashford, 49, at a seaside resort in Leysdown-on-Sea, Kent. The 16-year-old girl allegedly screamed derogatory remarks and filmed the attack on Mr. Cashford, who was found with severe head and facial injuries after meeting the trio on August 10 last year.
According to prosecutors, the teenagers used a fake name to lure Mr. Cashford to the beach after exchanging messages with him. The group was seen near the promenade where the attack took place. The girl and Mr. Cashford walked together while the boys followed behind. During the incident, the girl picked up a glass bottle, and a video from one of the boys’ phones captured the attack.
In the video, the girl can be heard accusing Mr. Cashford before the boys allegedly assaulted him. The court was told that the boys chased Mr. Cashford, causing him to fall to the ground. The girl continued to shout insults before the recording ended.
One of the boys later shared the video with others, using offensive language in the caption. Police were called to the scene after the incident was reported by a witness. CCTV footage showed the defendants leaving the area where Mr. Cashford was found.
The court also heard that Mr. Cashford had met the girl two days prior to the attack. Messages exchanged between them suggested they planned to meet at the beach. Witnesses identified the defendants at the scene, and a post-mortem examination revealed the extent of Mr. Cashford’s injuries.
The prosecution presented evidence showing that Mr. Cashford had multiple injuries, including fractures and bruises. The teenagers have denied the charge of murder, and the trial is ongoing.
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