Areece Lloyd-Hall sentenced for New Year’s Eve murder of 16-year-old Harry Pitman

A teenager has been sentenced to at least 16 years for murdering Harry Pitman on New Year’s Eve in 2023.

Harry, 16, was stabbed in the neck in Primrose Hill park, north London, as he gathered with friends to watch the fireworks.

Areece Lloyd-Hall, now 18, was found guilty last month of murder and having an offensive weapon.

He will be detained in a young offenders’ institution until he is 21, when he will go to an adult prison.

The Old Bailey trial heard Harry and Lloyd-Hall did not know each other and were with separate groups of friends.

The situation is said to have escalated after Harry accidentally bumped into someone from the other group while playfighting and a scuffle broke out.

Lloyd-Hall lunged at Harry with a pointed dagger, metres from where police were stationed.

Footage showed Harry holding his neck, his T-shirt covered in blood, as he pushed through crowds calling for “help”. He collapsed and died minutes later, shortly before midnight.

Lloyd-Hall fled but handed himself in at Hammersmith police station, alongside his father, on 4 January 2024.

He pleaded not guilty and claimed he thought he had only hit Harry with the knife’s sheath as he tried to get away.

The jury disagreed and convicted him by an 11-1 majority. It was his second trial after a previous jury was unable to agree.

At sentencing on Monday, the judge said Lloyd-Hall’s ADHD and potential PTSD provided some mitigation but that he bore significant responsibility as he chose to carry and use the knife.

“You stabbed Harry because you lost your temper with him and you acted like a big man in front of your friends,” said Mr Justice Cavanagh.

“In the moment, you did not care if he lived or died,” he added.

Members of Harry’s family were in tears and hugged as he was taken down to begin his sentence.

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His sister, Tayla Lohan, said the sound of fireworks now reminded them of losing Harry and “it will never be a happy New Year for our family again”.

She added: “As a family we all feel guilty that year, 2023, was the first year we had not all celebrated together.

“Harry went out to celebrate with his friends and he did not come home.”

Ms Lohan said her younger brother was bright, full of energy and a natural entrepreneur. He studied law at college and hoped to follow his great grandfather and join the Army.

Defence barrister David Bentley KC quoted a handwritten letter from Lloyd-Hall in which he said: “I’m sorry for causing this, honestly I am.”

Mr Bentley told the court he now realises he was an “naive, immature, stubborn teenager who should have been seeking help for his problems”.

“He also recognises he has not only caused terrible trauma to Harry’s family but also his family,” Mr Bentley added.