Guilty: Shane Canavan
Half-brothers Shane Canavan and Joshua Langley, both from Purley, were yesterday found guilty of the September 2023 murder in New Addington of 20-year-old Bradley Hutchins.
Hutchins was one of 11 people killed on the streets of Croydon during 2023.
Woolwich Crown Court had heard how the murder of Hutchins and serious injury of another early in the evening of September 12 last year on North Walk was an attack following a row over a fight that had taken place days before.
Canavan, 23, and Langley, 28, were found guilty of the murder of Bradley Hutchins and wounding with intent another 19-year-old man.
Guilty: Josh Langley
Canavan was also found guilty of possession of a pointed or bladed article while Langley previously pleaded guilty to the same offence.
The Metropolitan Police’s Detective Inspector Matt Read, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts first and foremost today are with Bradley’s family following the utter devastation they have suffered. Not only did they lose Bradley in awful and unnecessary circumstances, but they had the additional suffering of another relative being seriously injured too. He continues to be treated for his injuries to this day.
“We were quickly able to identify Canavan and Langley as being responsible for this terrible attack. We established that Canavan had been involved in a fist fight with Bradley and the other man a few days prior in which he had been the aggressor but had come off worse. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt then.
“Canavan however could not let it go and went out looking for the two victims, this time with a knife. When he found himself outnumbered by the pair and some friends he called for back-up in his half-brother Langley, and he himself also arrived with a knife and wearing a balaclava.
“A fight then ensued in which Bradley and the other victim fought back with makeshift weapons. However, they were both stabbed multiple times.”
Crime scene: the attack took place in broad daylight on North Walk, New Addington, last September, leaving one man dead and another with injuries from which he has yet to recover
A spokesperson for the family of Bradley Hutchins said: “We are obviously very happy with today’s verdict and are glad that these two men will now be off the streets where they can’t hurt anyone else. We are grateful to everyone who has helped to bring about this conviction today.
“In reality though it is no victory to us as we have lost our son and brother. Bradley was the best son a mum could ask for – he was always happy, forever smiling and was known by so many people for his kindness, always willing to help others. He will be forever remembered as our hero.
“Bradley was yet another young person killed in a senseless attack with a knife – more has to be done to address knife crime, to save lives and to prevent another family from being shattered by the devastating loss of someone they love. No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child.”
Police were called at about 6pm on Tuesday, September 12 last year to reports of people fighting on North Walk in New Addington.
Murder victim: Bradley Hutchins was 20 years old
Officers learned that both victims, having been stabbed, had made their way to New Addington ambulance base a short distance away.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, and the assistance of members of the London Fire Brigade, Hutchins’s life could not be saved and he died a short time later from a stab wound to the chest.
Weapons including a crowbar, monkey wrench and knife, plus the balaclava, were found having been left behind by those involved in the fight.
Canavan was arrested on September 16 and Langley the following day. Both were charged and remanded in custody.
Detectives gathered a combination of witness, CCTV and forensic evidence that would ultimately lead to their conviction.
They will be sentenced on Tuesday, August 6.
Read more: Croydon in 2023: London’s borough with most murder victims
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