A lawyer delivered a six-word cutting remark to three teenagers who lured a man to a beach and beat him to death, telling them their actions were not acceptable in civilised society. Kate Blumgart KC, prosecuting the youths at Woolwich Crown Court, said it was not their responsibility to take action against Alexander Cashford, 49, even if they believed he had committed sexual offences against minors.
The Fatal Attack on the Isle of Sheppey
The court heard that Mr Cashford, an electrician, had given his business card to a 16-year-old girl at an amusement arcade, which the teenagers interpreted as suspicious behaviour. However, prosecutors emphasised that he had not broken the law, as the legal age of consent is 16. Despite this, the girl, along with a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, lured Mr Cashford to a beach on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
A Brutal and Sustained Assault
At the beach in Leysdown-on-Sea, a family-friendly resort, the teenagers attacked Mr Cashford with rocks and a bottle. He was hit from behind with a bottle and, despite his attempts to flee, was relentlessly pursued and assaulted. The violent actions caused him to suffer more than 30 external injuries, ultimately leading to his death. Shocking mobile phone footage recorded by the girl during the attack was shown to jurors, depicting the two boys pouncing on Mr Cashford as he walked along the seafront.
Legal Proceedings and Convictions
The girl and the 15-year-old boy were convicted of manslaughter yesterday, while the 16-year-old boy had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. All three teenagers were cleared of murder by the jury. They cannot be named due to their ages. The court was told that the boys had sent Mr Cashford messages using the fake name "Sienna" and arranged to meet him by the sea wall two days after he gave his business card to their friend.
The Lawyer's Powerful Reference
During the trial, Ms Blumgart made her pointed six-word remark to the defendants, stating: "This isn't Lord of the Flies." She referred to the 1954 novel by William Golding, which depicts a group of boys who descend into savagery when stranded on an uninhabited desert island. Ms Blumgart continued, reminding the jury that the court is not a forum for morality or rough justice. She said: "The defendants described him as a paedo. He had given (the girl) his business card. You may find that extremely distasteful but this isn't Lord of the Flies."
Police Emphasis on Legal Standards
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber of Kent Police reinforced this point, telling the Daily Mail that Mr Cashford had not acted illegally in his interactions with the girl. DCI Kimber stated: "There was nothing illegal about his actions. Whatever people's views are, he certainly didn't act illegally. We deal with the incident based on the evidence and the legal standing. Really, it's not a moral judgment, it's an evidential judgment on what the law says."
Sentencing and Aftermath
The three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, expected to be in April. The case has highlighted the dangers of vigilante justice and the importance of adhering to legal processes, even in situations where individuals may feel morally outraged. The prosecution's use of the "Lord of the Flies" analogy underscores the breakdown of social order that can occur when people take the law into their own hands, leading to tragic consequences.
