Case Against Man Accused of Nathaniel Armstrong's Murder Dropped
Lovel Bailey already released as prosecutor says no 'realistic prospect of conviction'
Nathaniel Armstrong. Picture: Facebook
The case against Lovel Bailey, 29, who was charged with the murder of Nathaniel Armstrong, also 29 in Fulham's Gowan Avenue has been dropped.
Mr Bailey was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 2 April, following Mr Armstrong's death after being stabbed shortly before 1am on Saturday 16 March.
Mr Bailey was due to face trial in November but prosecutors said there was not a realistic prospect of conviction.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told the Old Bailey the defendant, of Bromwich Walk, Little Bromwich, Birmingham, had already been released from custody and the deceased's family informed.
The stabbing was alleged to have occurred during an argument between Mr Armstrong and the defendant.
Nathaniel, who was the cousin of TV weatherman Alex Beresford, died about 100 metres from his home in the same street where TV presenter Jill Dando was killed 20 years ago.
Friends described him as an exceptionally friendly person who was very popular in the area being known around youth centres where he played basketball. He was six foot seven and was dubbed BFG (Big Friendly Giant).
He was found at the scene with serious knife injuries. Before emergency services arrived he had been tended to by members of the public and then received further treatment from medical professionals but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.56am.
The scene at Gowan Avenue
Less than two weeks before his cousin's death, Alex Beresford, who is well known to viewers of ITV's Good Morning Britain, had spoken out about knife crime live on TV.
Following the stabbing, he released a statement saying: "I'm deeply saddened to confirm my cousin Nathaniel lost his life on Friday night. We were all so shocked to receive this news yesterday and our thoughts right now are with his mum, his brother and sisters.
"Nathaniel was a bright young man with his whole life ahead of him and this tragedy is yet one more example of a needless life lost to knife crime."
June 18, 2019