Norwich: Three teenagers guilty of murdering Joe Dix

Hans Beeharry, Benjamin Gil and Cameron Palmer, all 19 and said to be "involved in the supply of drugs," attacked Joe Dix outside his flat in Vale Green, Mile Cross.

Police in Vale Green after Joe Dix was stabbed to death (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Mr Dix was taken to hospital after his partner Lauren Carr called 999 shortly before 7pm on January 28 last year to say her boyfriend had been stabbed.

Joe Dix (Image: Supplied by family of Joe Dix)

But he was pronounced dead in hospital just over an hour later - by which time his attackers were playing football in Norwich.

Beeharry, Gil and Palmer have been on trial at Norwich Crown Court having denied murdering Mr Dix but Palmer and Gil were found unanimously guilty of murder on Wednesday (August 30) after almost 11 hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

Police in Vale Green after Joe Dix was stabbed to death (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

The jury of seven men and five women were then given a majority verdict direction before finding Beeharry guilty of murder after 12 hours and 42 minutes.

Beeharry, who wore a dark blue suit, bowed his head as the verdict was announced while a relieved "yes" was heard from the public gallery where Mr Dix's family sat.

Joe Dix (Image: Submitted from family of Joe Dix)

His parents, who have maintained a dignified silence throughout the trial, hugged each other with relief as the verdict came through.

A fourth defendant, Yaman Uslu, 19, of Horner Close, Norwich, was found not guilty of assisting an offender.

Cameron Palmer, Hans Beeharry and Benjamin Gil who have been found guilty of murder (Image: Norfolk Police)

Judge Alice Robinson told Palmer, Gil and Beeharry, who all bowed their heads after jurors found them guilty, they would be sentenced on October 4.

Judge Alice Robinson (Image: Newsquest)

The trial, which started on August 2 this year, heard Mr Dix left his Vale Green flat after he received a call stating "my friend is in trouble".

The flat in Vale Green where Mr Dix was heading was described by his partner as a "crack house" where a drug dealer had set up a county lines drugs operation.

Miss Carr heard "shouting" and looked out of the window before running from the flat to find Mr Dix who was "holding his belly saying he had been stabbed".

Gil, of Lefroy Road, Norwich, Beeharry, of Bracondale, Norwich, and Palmer, of Theobald Road, Norwich had all been dropped off at Sloughbottom Park, near to Vale Green at 6.21pm on January 28 last year.

Jurors heard messages later found on the defendants' phones related to "a robbery of cash and or drugs" from the Vale Green flat in which they "were to be involved".

By 6.43pm Gil, Beeharry and Palmer were picked up on CCTV walking towards Vale Green with Gil walking as if there was "something concealed within his trousers".

CCTV cameras in the area picked up four figures who, the prosecution asserted, was Mr Dix being chased by the defendants.

Police in Vale Green after Joe Dix was stabbed to death (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Both Gil and Palmer were holding weapons during the pursuit before Mr Dix was "fatally stabbed".

At 6.55pm Mr Dix could be seen on camera walking back walking towards his address when he collapsed.

The defendants walked back towards Seaman Tower, the home of Gil, before they left to play football at Goals in Norwich where they were when until about 8.45pm during which time Mr Dix had died.

The three defendants spent the evening disposing of clothing and other evidence in a "concerted and deliberate attempt" to cover their tracks.

Jurors were told a mobile phone disposed of by Palmer in the River Yare was recovered, dried out and subsequently unlocked by police earlier this year resulting in police accessing new information about the case.

Interrogation of Palmer's phone led police to recover remnants of burnt clothing worn by the defendants which was recovered in February this year from land at Bixley Manor Estate at Trowse.

It also revealed details of snapchat conversations he had with others around the time of Mr Dix's death.

Palmer left a voice note on the chat stating it had been "nice and quick, quick as you like".