Charlie Cosser, a 17-year-old, was fatally stabbed during an end-of-term celebration at a farmhouse located in Marches Road, Warnham, near Horsham, on July 23 last year.
Known affectionately as Cheeks, Charlie suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on July 25.
The perpetrator, who was 16 at the time of the incident and is now 17, faces a potential life sentence after being found guilty of Charlie’s murder and possession of a bladed weapon following a trial at Lewes Crown Court in Brighton. Due to legal restrictions, the identity of the teenage defendant cannot be disclosed.
Throughout the three-week trial, members of Charlie’s family, who attended court proceedings daily, reacted emotionally to the unanimous guilty verdicts handed down on Tuesday, embracing each other as they processed the outcome.
Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, leading the investigation for the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, expressed condolences to Charlie’s family and acknowledged the complexity of the case, extending gratitude to the public for their support and witnesses for their crucial contributions in ensuring justice for Charlie.
The defendant remains in custody pending sentencing scheduled for June 19.
