Children accused of using glass bottle and rocks to murder man on Isle of Sheppey
Alexander Cashford was subject to a ‘violent assault’, court hears
Three children are accused of murdering a man on the Isle of Sheppey using a glass bottle and rocks.
A 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 14 and 15, appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon, charged with the murder of 49-year-old Alexander Cashford.
Kent police earlier said they were called to the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown-on-Sea shortly after 7pm on Sunday, following an altercation involving a small number of people.
Mr Cashford was confirmed dead at the scene, with the force saying multiple injuries to his body were reported.
The three teenagers, all from London, are thought to have been on holiday in Kent at the time of the attack.
They were jointly charged with murder on Tuesday.
The defendants were accompanied in the well of the court by their parents on Wednesday.
Other family members watched from the public gallery.
For the prosecution, Dylan Bradshaw said: “What we know is that Alexander Cashford, a 49-year-old male, shortly after 7pm on Sunday August 10, went to the beach area of Warden’s Bay.
“About an hour and five minutes later, he was pronounced dead – during that period, he was the subject of a violent assault.”
The attack is alleged to involve a glass bottle and rocks being thrown, the court heard.
The 16-year-old and 14-year-old both cried during the hearing while the 15-year-old looked at the floor, rocking slightly.
A 12-year-old girl, arrested on Tuesday in Basildon, Essex, is still in custody.
On Monday, a police cordon could be seen in a large clearing behind the beach in the Leysdown-on-Sea resort, in front of a caravan park.
Specialist officers brought out a sniffer dog at the crime scene.
They also investigated in Leysdown-on-Sea town centre, near the arcade.
The fire service arrived on Tuesday afternoon to remove their equipment while the police officers took down their cordon.
Locals have called the incident “shocking”, and many have said that “nothing ever happens” in the area.
A shopkeeper, working at Oasis Stores across the road from the incident, said he had run out to help after his wife said someone was having a heart attack.
He said that Mr Cashford was “just here for holidays”.
An air ambulance was called to the scene after the alleged attack and Mr Cashford was pronounced dead around 7pm on Sunday.
Detectives urged any witnesses who have not yet spoken to the police to contact them.
Aanyone with information should contact the major crime unit via the major incident public portal or by phone on 01622 652006, quoting 10-1384.
Reports can also be made anonymously via Crimestoppers.
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