**Teenager Found Guilty of Murdering Boy at New Year’s Eve Party** An 18-year-old has been convicted of murdering a 16-year-old boy during a New Year’s Eve celebration in London. Areece Lloyd-Hall fatally stabbed Harry Pitman in the neck at Primrose Hill, where crowds had gathered to watch fireworks over the River Thames on December 31, 2023. The incident unfolded shortly after 11.30pm, when Harry, described as “lively and boisterous,” was playfighting with friends. Witnesses reported that Harry lost his balance and accidentally bumped into one of Lloyd-Hall’s friends, leading to a confrontation. In a shocking turn of events, Lloyd-Hall lunged at Harry with a pointed dagger, just metres away from uniformed police officers. Mobile phone footage presented in court captured the moment, showing a knife sheath flying through the air during the altercation. Eyewitnesses recalled Harry engaging in friendly banter earlier in the evening, even fist-bumping a stranger. However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when a scuffle broke out. After being shoved and slapped on the back of the head, Harry responded, saying, “Don’t touch me, because I didn’t touch you.” Lloyd-Hall approached Harry, holding his trousers and repeatedly saying, “Wot wot wot wot wot.” As tensions escalated, a girl in the crowd warned of a knife, using the Somalian term “mindi.” In the ensuing chaos, Harry swung a punch at Lloyd-Hall, who then swung the knife upwards and downwards, striking Harry in the neck. Body-worn camera footage from police showed Harry desperately seeking help from officers, holding his neck as blood soaked his white T-shirt. He collapsed shortly before midnight and died minutes later. During the trial, Lloyd-Hall claimed he did not intend to kill Harry, stating, “I did not want him to lose his life. I feel horrible for what I caused. It was not my intention.” He explained that he ran away in panic, not realising the severity of the situation. Jurors were informed that Lloyd-Hall had been suffering from cannabis-induced paranoia and had experienced trauma from witnessing a previous stabbing and the loss of a friend to knife crime earlier in June 2023. After a retrial at the Old Bailey, Lloyd-Hall was found guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 11 to one, following nearly eight hours of jury deliberation. In a previous trial, he had been convicted of possession of an offensive weapon, but the jury could not reach a consensus on the murder charge. The courtroom reacted with gasps from Harry’s family as the verdict was announced. Areece Lloyd-Hall is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on November 10, 2023.