Boy, 15, acquitted of killing Tyrone Hayman with knife in Bristol

A unanimous jury acquitted the boy of both murder and manslaughter

A 15-year-old boy has been acquitted of murdering a teenager with a knife.

Tyrone Hayman, 17, was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after suffering a single stab wound at his flat in Bedminster, Bristol, on December 14.

The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, admitted holding a kitchen knife at the time Tyrone was injured.

But he insisted he had not intended to hurt Tyrone, who he said had accidentally impaled himself on the knife.

This afternoon (May 27), a unanimous jury acquitted the boy of both murder and manslaughter.

The judge Mr Justice Garnham told the boy: "You are now free to go."

He thanked jurors for their service during the week-long case, particularly given the coronavirus pandemic.

The trial was the first to take place at Bristol Crown Court since the Covid-19 lockdown.

Giving evidence during the case, the boy said Tyrone had unplugged his phone, which had been charging.

He said Tyrone threw the phone on the floor, with the boy then taking Tyrone's phone and putting it under the sofa.

"I picked up the knife and said to him 'Oi, come here'," the boy told the court.

"He looked up and giggled like 'what?'. The knife was in my right hand. He rushed towards me."

Tyrone then backed away and blood appeared on his clothing, before he ran outside to get help.

The boy denied stabbing Tyrone in anger or to hurt him, and said he was "upset and quite shocked" by what had happened.

Members of the public called an ambulance after seeing Tyrone bleeding outside the property.

He was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary, where he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination found he died from a single stab wound to the left side of his chest.

During the trial, each person attending court was asked to confirm that they did not have any symptoms of coronavirus.

Anyone who sneezed or coughed had to use a tissue, dispose of it carefully and sanitise their hands.

There was a one-way system around the court building, and jurors were seated two metres apart around the court room.

Three court rooms, which were regularly cleaned and ventilated, were used for the case.

Mr Justice Garnham said the building had been inspected by health and safety officials, who deemed it safe.