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18/02/2005
Man acquitted over New Year killings
A man has been cleared of the shootings of two teenage girls at a New Year party in 2003.
Tafarwa Beckford, 22, was one of five men accused of killing Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, who were shot dead at a New Year's party in Birmingham in January 2003.
It was reported that the two girls had been the victims of a gangland row.
Judge Goldring instructed the jury at Leicester Crown Court to acquit Mr Beckford, because of insufficient evidence against him.
Mr Beckford had pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and three charges of attempted murder.
The case against four other men in connection with the killings is continuing.
(KMcA/SP)
Tafarwa Beckford, 22, was one of five men accused of killing Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, who were shot dead at a New Year's party in Birmingham in January 2003.
It was reported that the two girls had been the victims of a gangland row.
Judge Goldring instructed the jury at Leicester Crown Court to acquit Mr Beckford, because of insufficient evidence against him.
Mr Beckford had pleaded not guilty to two murder charges and three charges of attempted murder.
The case against four other men in connection with the killings is continuing.
(KMcA/SP)
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