CCTV shows student, 24, in last sighting before he was beaten unconscious and thrown over a balcony


This is the haunting moment a 24-year-old student leaves an off-licence store in the last sighting before he was beaten unconscious and his body thrown over a balcony.

William ‘Billy’ Henham, described as ‘gentle, peaceful and kind’, was then stripped naked and cleaned with disinfectant by his attackers in a bid to ‘cover their tracks’ and destroy any forensic evidence. 

Just a few hours before his brutal death, Mr Henham had been seen ‘singing, dancing and smiling’ in a Brighton nightclub to celebrate the New Year.

But by dawn on January 1, 2020, he had been subjected to the ‘sustained and significant’ fatal assault from punches, kicks, stamps, and a broken stair spindle, leaving him with 67 separate injuries. 

A court heard these included 11 rib fractures to both sides of his body, extensive bruising to his scalp, face and neck, a deep cut to his forehead and a brain injury.

Mr Henham, who had studied film and photography at Ravensbourne University in south east London and lived with his parents in Henfield, West Sussex, was then dropped over balcony railings from a height of just under 11ft.

The CCTV footage was released by Sussex Police on Thursday after three men and a teenager were convicted of his murder.

Gregory Hawley, 29, Dushane Meikle, 28, Lamech Gordon-Carew, 20, and 18-year-old Alize Spence all denied murder but were unanimously found guilty. None of the four knew or had previously met Mr Henham.

Three of the suspects are seen partying on the balcony of a building. William 'Billy' Henham, 24, was left with 67 separate injuries after the 'sustained and significant' assault

Three of the suspects are seen partying on the balcony of a building. William ‘Billy’ Henham, 24, was left with 67 separate injuries after the ‘sustained and significant’ assault

Just a few hours before his brutal death, Mr Henham had been seen 'singing, dancing and smiling' in a Brighton nightclub to celebrate the New Year. Pictured: a CCTV still showing the last sighting of Mr Henham on the night he died

Just a few hours before his brutal death, Mr Henham had been seen ‘singing, dancing and smiling’ in a Brighton nightclub to celebrate the New Year. Pictured: a CCTV still showing the last sighting of Mr Henham on the night he died 

Mr Henham (above) studied film and photography at Ravensbourne University in south east London and lived with his parents in Henfield, West Sussex

Mr Henham (above) studied film and photography at Ravensbourne University in south east London and lived with his parents in Henfield, West Sussex

Mr Henham’s clothing, apart from his red Puma trainers, was never recovered, while traces of disinfectant were later found in his hair.

Bloodstained areas where he had been beaten also appeared to have been ‘diluted’.

But a jury at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, was told that despite the severity of his injuries, Mr Henham would have been alive for at least an hour after the violent attack.

His body was discovered by police on the evening of January 2 laying in a recess area on a roof terrace at a former office block, hotel and restaurant complex.

The building in North Street had been occupied by squatters at the time, with up to 50 people attending the New Year’s Eve party.

One resident later recalled hearing a man screaming in pain from a room he described in court as ‘the torture chamber’.

The verdicts for each defendant were taken individually due to security issues in the dock.

They will be sentenced at a later date to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Cavanagh who will also set the minimum terms to be served before they are eligible for parole.

Their trial heard Hawley, who ‘ran’ the squat, was seen on New Year’s Day with a container of disinfectant and cloth, saying ‘We killed someone last night’ and having to ‘clean up the mess’.

He also confessed to how he had seen Mr Henham take his last breath, while Gordon-Carew was said to have boasted about what they had done.

Gordon-Carew, of Hampton, Middlesex, Hawley, of no fixed address, and Spence, who was 16 at the time, were arrested at another squat in Brighton the day after Mr Henham’s body had been discovered.

When Meikle, of Hove, was arrested on January 9, 2020, police seized his phone and later found two deleted photos of Mr Henham’s body on the roof terrace.

Dushane Meikle, 28

18-year-old Alize Spence

Dushane Meikle (pictured left), 28, and 18-year-old Alize Spence (right) were convicted of Mr Henham’s murder along with two others. They will be sentenced at a later date

Gregory Hawley, 29,

Lamech Gordon-Carew, 20

Gregory Hawley (left), 29, and Lamech Gordon-Carew (right), 20, were also convicted of Mr Henham’s murder. None of the four knew or had previously met the student

The first was of him partially clothed and laying on his left side. The second showed him naked, laying on his back, and in a different area of the recess.

The prosecution said that although the motive for the murder was ‘unclear’, it was said Hawley claimed Mr Henham had been killed for being ‘lairy and mouthy’.

At the start of their trial, prosecutor James Mulholland QC said all four had either joined in the physical attack on Mr Henham or ‘deliberately helped or encouraged’ one or more of the others to do so.

‘William Henham was subjected to a sustained assault before his body was dropped over a balcony and he was found naked, laying on his back on a low-level outdoor roof terrace,’ he told the court.

‘Shortly after his death, two of the defendants – Gregory Hawley and Lamech Gordon-Carew – boasted to others about what they had done to Mr Henham.

‘The prosecution case is that each defendant either joined in the physical attack upon William Henham or deliberately helped or encouraged one or more of the others to do so.

Ian and Debbie Henham broke down in tears as they paid tribute to their son, describing him as a 'gentle, kind, young man'

Ian and Debbie Henham broke down in tears as they paid tribute to their son, describing him as a ‘gentle, kind, young man’

‘Each intended in doing so that he be caused at least really serious injury and they are all guilty of murder.’

Following the verdicts, Sussex Police issued a statement on behalf of Mr Henham’s family, reading: ‘Bill, our son and Rory’s brother, was cruelly and coldly taken from us on the morning of January 1, 2020.

‘It is hard to describe the horror of losing a family member to murder, especially in such a brutal and needless way. We cannot fathom as to why anyone would inflict such cruelty on someone so helpless.

‘In the weeks before his death, Bill had been living with us at home whilst taking a break from his studies at Ravensbourne University in London, where he studied digital film production. His love of art, films and film-making has left us with many examples of his creativity.

‘He was a kind and peaceful young man; a free spirit who happily chatted to those he came across. We can well imagine, in his impaired and vulnerable condition that night, he was drawn towards the squat party and went into the North Street building not understanding the danger he was putting himself in.

‘In CCTV pictures we’ve seen of him, across the road from the squat, it hurts not to be able to make him hear our cries, warning him not to go in.

‘These past two years have been hard for us and others, and we are very grateful for all of the kindness we have been shown, especially in what has been such a challenging few years for many.

‘We are indebted to all of the court officers, the Crown Prosecution Service, and all of the members of the jury who we know have made personal sacrifices to see this prolongated trial through.

‘Our gratitude is also extended to all the expert witnesses, as well as our brilliant and committed prosecution team.

Following the verdicts, Sussex Police issued a statement on behalf of Mr Henham's family, reading: 'Bill, our son and Rory's brother, was cruelly and coldly taken from us on the morning of January 1, 2020'. Pictured: Police officers on scene following the murder

Following the verdicts, Sussex Police issued a statement on behalf of Mr Henham’s family, reading: ‘Bill, our son and Rory’s brother, was cruelly and coldly taken from us on the morning of January 1, 2020’. Pictured: Police officers on scene following the murder

‘Our biggest thanks are reserved for all of the officers of Sussex Police who have helped us. So many were involved in so many different ways, all striving for the justice Bill deserves. Words alone cannot express our gratitude for their service.

‘The events of that night have left us with a Bill shaped void in our lives.. We’ll strive not to cry too often, but instead smile when we remember his short life especially because he shared it with us.’

The force’s Detective Superintendent, Alex Geldart, said: ‘I, and the whole investigation team, feel privileged to have brought justice for Bill and his family, whose strength, dignity and fortitude throughout the investigation and trial has been truly humbling.

‘Bill was just enjoying celebrating the New Year when his life was brutally brought to an end. Since his tragic murder, we have never given up hope that we would finally hold those responsible to account.

‘This has been a lengthy and complex investigation involving a huge number of enquiries and forensic work to bring this case to court, resulting in the convictions today for this senseless killing.

‘The four convicted men will now face many years in prison and we hope Bill’s family will be able to find some closure, knowing that his killers are finally behind bars.’

Speaking afterwards, Ian and Debbie Henham broke down in tears as they paid tribute to their son. 

His body was discovered by police on the evening of January 2 laying in a recess area on a roof terrace at a former office block, hotel and restaurant complex. Pictured: the disused building where Billy was found

His body was discovered by police on the evening of January 2 laying in a recess area on a roof terrace at a former office block, hotel and restaurant complex. Pictured: the disused building where Billy was found

Mr Henham said: ‘He was a gentle, kind, young man. He was interested in film and loved making films.

‘He had a wide circle of friends who loved him and we have been having messages from them regularly saying they miss his caring face and happy smiles.

‘Today doesn’t bring Billy back and that is the biggest loss, the tragic loss of our son.

‘We will have to live with that and carry that for the rest of our years. But it is important we have justice.’

The trial was plagued with delays, many Covid-related, and the jurors were not only praised by the judge for their dedication and patience, but also by the Henham family.

‘We are so grateful to the jury. We have been flabbergasted by the way they have stuck to it,’ said Mr Henham.

‘There have been incidents of personal bereavement, sickness, car accidents and even a holiday cancellation but they have still come to court.

‘They certainly haven’t stopped giving their service. It’s been 100% and it’s been wonderful.’

Senior investigating officer Det Supt Alex Gelhart said her team of officers had ‘never given up hope’ of justice for Mr Henham.

‘Billy went out on New Year’s Eve, a young man of 24, with a tenner in his pocket and his dad’s mobile phone number written on a piece of paper in his pocket, to enjoy new year,’ she added.

‘Within a matter of hours his life was taken from him cruelly and senselessly by the four men who have not shown a shred of remorse at any time.’

Hawley, Gordon-Carew, Spence and Meikle will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court at a date yet to be fixed.

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