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A teenager who was stabbed and effectively dead for nearly an hour beamed in court as he watched his two attackers being convicted.

James Bascoe-Smith was 16 when the assault, which has left him using a wheelchair and struggling to communicate, took place last year.

Leon Rashid, 20, and Taiquane Lewis, 18, were convicted of conspiracy to murder him.

Rashid was also found guilty of having an offensive weapon.

A third defendant, Stephanie Paez-Lopez, 20, was cleared of assisting an offender by helping to get rid of a Range Rover used in the attack.

James was knocked off his bike, which he was test riding for his mother, and knifed by masked men in Brixton, south London, on 23 February 2021, jurors heard.

He video-called her from his mobile phone as he lay on the ground and he effectively died in the streets near his home before he was saved in hospital.

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James was with family members at the Old Bailey to see his attackers convicted.

His mother, Lisa Bascoe-Smith, said: “James did not have any issues with anybody in the area. He is a happy boy, always smiling.

“He is into music, DJ-ing, was studying music technology and has nothing to do with the gang lifestyle.

“When I look back to the day of the incident, I remember James was so eager to help me out and make sure the bike was working.

“He wanted to look out for me. He wanted to make sure it was safe and 100% rideable.

‘My phone rang and I saw James lying on the floor’

“I remember standing on my doorstep waiting for him to come back. My phone rang and I saw James lying on the floor.

“I sunk when I saw him in a pool of blood. I keep asking myself, ‘How can it have happened in that space of a minute out of my eyesight?'”

Ms Bascoe-Smith said James has made some progress in his rehabilitation, adding: “He has gone from a sporty, carefree, happy-go-lucky boy to someone who has been bedridden and is struggling to move or communicate.”

James’s aunt, Rachel Duncan, said: “We truly need to end this cycle of violence that can often become generational. We need to eradicate knife violence on our streets.”

Jurors had been told James was hit by a stolen black Range Rover in Henry Road shortly after 6pm.

‘Brutal and terrible attack’

Prosecutor Edward Brown KC said: “This was a brutal and terrible attack.

“In effect, James Bascoe-Smith had died at the scene and was only brought back to life by the immediate and significant efforts of the treating medical professionals.

“However, he had suffered a significant period during which there was a lack of blood/oxygen to the brain – possibly as much as 50 minutes.”

Even though there was no reason for the attack, it was “very determined and concerted” and “very nearly succeeded” in killing the teenager, Mr Brown said.

A selection of “terrifying” knives discarded by the fleeing attackers included a combat knife, a Rambo-style blade and a Zombie-style machete.

Rashid, from Thornton Heath, south London, and Lewis, of Kennington, south London, were remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.

Previously, a fourth defendant, Patrick Fox-Pinto, 18, from Bow, east London, was cleared of all charges after the prosecution offered no evidence.

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Constance Marten and partner guilty of concealing birth of child and perverting course of justice

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June 26, 2024

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Constance Marten and partner guilty of concealing birth of child and perverting course of justice

Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon have been found guilty at the Old Bailey of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice, it can now be reported.

There will be a retrial on other charges they were facing, which is likely to be held in March next year.

Marten, 37, who is from a wealthy family, and Gordon, 50, were charged following the death of their newborn baby daughter Victoria.

A nationwide search for Marten and Gordon was launched after a placenta was found in the couple’s burnt-out car on a motorway in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in January 2023.

The couple were arrested in Brighton last February, with the child’s body found days later.

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Maldwyn Evans: Family ‘distraught’ after death of four-year-old boy

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June 26, 2024

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Maldwyn Evans: Family 'distraught' after death of four-year-old boy

A family has been left “incredibly distraught” after the death of a four-year-old boy in his garden in Ceredigion in west Wales.

Maldwyn “Gwern” Evans died at his home in Tynreithin, Tregaron, on 20 June.

His family described him as a “keen little farmer” who would be remembered for his “captivating personality”.

“As a family, we are incredibly distraught by our tragic loss, and he will be greatly missed by us and the entire community,” they said in a statement issued through Dyfed-Powys Police.

“He was a loving son and a caring brother, who touched the hearts of so many.

“He lived his short life to the fullest and will be remembered for his captivating personality.

“He was an extremely keen little farmer who had knowledge and ability beyond his years.”

They added: “We would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness at this horrific time.

“It has meant so much to the whole family.”

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Dyfed-Powys Police said in a previous statement: “The death is not being treated as suspicious and HM Coroner has been informed.

“Our thoughts are with the family who are receiving support and they have asked for privacy during this difficult time.”

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UK

Jay Slater: Spanish police release new footage of search for missing teen

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4 hours ago

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June 26, 2024

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Jay Slater: Spanish police release new footage of search for missing teen

Newly released footage shows the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater continues by both land and air.

The search for the 19-year-old from Lancashire, who is missing in Tenerife, has now entered its tenth day.

He has been missing since Monday 17 June.

The friends he was holidaying with last heard from him at around 8.30am that day.

He told them he planned to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus – a journey of around 11 hours by foot.

The search currently centres on Masca, a mountainous area on the western tip of the island.

The village, which is home to around 90 inhabitants, lies at an altitude of 650m, and is where Mr Slater is believed to have been when he was last heard from.

Pic: Guardia Civil/X
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Pic: Guardia Civil/X

Pic: Guardia Civil/X
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Pic: Guardia Civil/X

Search continues

The footage from Spanish police comes after Mr Slater’s father said the family were being kept in the dark by some officers.

It shows a helicopter searching the mountainous area, with search teams on foot having been joined by sniffer dogs.

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They then enter a wooded area and proceed to search the mountainous region.

In one clip, an officer uses binoculars to try and see if there are any signs of the missing teen.

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Jay Slater’s dad has said police have left him and his family in the dark over the hunt for the missing teen.

The 35-second montage of clips was posted on the X social media platform on the Guardia Civil account.

“We continue with the search for the young British man missing in Tenerife,” police said in the post on Tuesday night.

“Different Guardia Civil units from the area participate, joined by agents, with their dogs specialised in searching for people, from Madrid.”

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But The Times reports that the dogs have not been given a piece of Mr Slater’s clothing for them to pick up a scent.

Cadaver dogs have been trained to pick up the scent of human remains without the need for a specific prompt.

Read more:
Hiker rescued by police searching for Jay Slater
Online sleuths wade into hunt

Mayor Emilio Jose Navarro told the Reuters news agency that some locals have been interviewed by police.

That includes some who claim they saw Mr Slater watching Euro matches on the coast.

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