Areece Lloyd-Hall (left) and Harry Pitman

A TEEN has been convicted of the murder of another young boy just before midnight on New Year’s Eve following an Old Bailey retrial.

Police said the conviction of Areece Lloyd-Hall, 18, from north Westminster, showed that there was “no excuse for leaving home with a weapon”.

He stabbed Harry Pitman, 15, in the neck after they accidentally bumped into each other on Primrose Hill on December 31 2023. The court had heard that Lloyd-Hall had struggled after witnessing the stabbing of a friend close to City of Westminster College earlier that year.

The trial had to be reheard after the initial jury could not reach a majority verdict.

Detective Inspector Daniel Catmull said: “Once again, we have seen what carrying a knife can do. There is no excuse for anyone to leave home with a weapon, and the Met is doing everything it can to crack down on violence.

“On behalf of Harry’s family, we extend our deepest gratitude to the individuals who witnessed this horrific event but had the resilience to come forward and support the investigation. While justice has been served, the tragic loss of such a bright and promising young life, whose vibrant spirit touched so many, is a profound tragedy that will for ever be felt by all who knew and loved.”

No knife was discovered at the scene but Areece Lloyd-Hall’s DNA was found on this sheath

He added: “A new year is meant to offer new beginnings and fresh opportunities, but sadly, Harry’s family will now be marking this event by remembering how he was taken from them. Our thoughts today are with them and everyone who knew Harry.”

Lloyd-Hall fled the park alone with the knife used in the attack, later meeting up again with his friends, the court heard.

During a search of the scene a sheath for a knife was found and forensic analysis identified his DNA on it.

But the knife was never recovered and footage of the attack from smartphones were not conclusive.

Student Lloyd-Hall, who was 16 at the time, claimed that he thought he had only hit Harry with the sheath in an attempt to get Harry away from him.

He had told the court: “I did not want him to lose his life.

“I feel horrible for what I caused.

“It was not my intention.”

The court had also heard that he had suffered from PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, after witnessing the death of a friend to knife crime in June 2023.

That is believed to be the death of a teenager close to St Mary’s churchyard, Paddington Green, just across from City of Westminster College.

Harry Pitman had stumbled towards police officers on Primrose Hill. They provided first aid before paramedics arrived but he died shortly before midnight.

Lloyd-Hall voluntarily attended Hammersmith police station and was arrested on suspicion of murder on January 4 2024. He was charged two days later.

He was just 16 at the time and could not be named due to his young age.

Police said he admitted being present on Primrose Hill but denied any involvement in the killing.

Lloyd-Hall is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on November 10.