A group of teenage girls and young women accused of being part of a mass fight in Hyde Park where a 15-year-old was stabbed have appeared in court.
Athena Dullard, 18, from Surrey, Beatriz Gomez, 19, from Croydon, and Millie Welch, 19, from Croydon, all pleaded not guilty to violent disorder at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, December 31st).
Two 15-year-old girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty, whilst a sixth person is being tried separately.
The court heard a fight occurred during an annual unofficial celebration of cannabis in the park on April 20 and resulted in a girl, 15, being stabbed in the leg.
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Prosecutor Nathan Paine-Davy said: “It is right to say that all defendants were involved in a fight, a fight observed by members of the public and which lasted for around seven minutes.”
The fight was reportedly due to an ongoing conflict between two members of the group.
Large groups gather every year to celebrate 420
(Image: Tony Gill)
Violence erupted at 6.10pm and police officers on patrol at the park quickly arrived to find the schoolgirl with a serious stab wound.
London Ambulance Service paramedics were called and the teenager was taken to hospital where her condition was assessed as non life-threatening.
April 20, widely known as 420, is an unofficial holiday for cannabis smokers and legalisation activists which takes place in Hyde Park each year.
Despite being under Covid-19 measures, thousands of people had still gathered in the park earlier this year.
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Pictures and video footage of the fight were widely circulated online in the aftermath of the brawl.
Deputy District Judge Evans branded it a “complex case” and ruled that it was “too serious” to be dealt with at a magistrates court.
The two 15-year-olds will now be tried in a youth court, while Dullard, Gomez and Welch will appear at Southwark Crown Court on January 28, 2022.
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