A 16-year-old boy has been found not guilty of murdering 16-year-old Shayne Hambakachere following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was also found not guilty of the alternative charge of manslaughter.
The jury returned a majority verdict today (20th August), after deliberating for almost 12 hours.
Shayne was fatally stabbed in London Road, Chippenham, on 31st January. He died at Southmead Hospital in Bristol the following day.
The trial, which began on 10th August, heard that the two teenagers had arranged to meet following an argument involving stolen cannabis.
The court heard that Shayne entered an alleyway with the other teenager and was stabbed in the chest. The defendant, who was 15 at the time of the incident, told the court that he had been afraid he was about to be attacked.
Giving evidence during the trial, he said his intention had been to scare Shayne away and that he had not intended to kill him.
The jury was also shown footage relating to the incident during the nine-day trial.
The defence told the court that the teenager had been exposed to gang culture and influenced by social media content involving knives, guns and drugs.
The teenager was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter following the jury's decision.
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