The three men on trial for the murder of Ben Gardner have been found guilty.

Daniel Ransom, 21, from Blake Close, and Ross Collender, 21, from Wigmore Road, and Jordan Dixon, 18, from Carshalton, had been on trial at the Old Bailey since September 21.

Sarah Davey, from Throwley Way, Sutton, was cleared of harbouring defendant Dixon, who managed to evade police capture for two months after Mr Gardner’s murder.

IT expert Mr Gardner had been out celebrating his girlfriend Allana Devine's birthday when he was set upon by a group of men in Throwley Way, Sutton, on November 1 last year.

The 30-year-old was killed in a row about his girlfriend's Halloween hat in Throwley Way on November 1.

The murder took place as the couple were returning home from a night out on Halloween.

On the night of Halloween (October 31), Ben Gardner - who had just bought a flat in Sutton - and Allanna Devine, from Morden, were at a nightclub celebrating her birthday.

Miss Devine, who was in fancy dress with a wig and a black pirates hat, left the club with Mr Gardner at 3.15am with their friend Kay Chick and headed to a kebab shop.

It was at this point that one of the defendants stole her fancy dress hat from the top of her head.

Earlier in the trial, Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, told the jury it was this act that ultimately led to the confrontation between Ben Gardner and the male defendants.

The court heard Mr Gardner went over to protect his girlfriend when he was attacked from behind by Collender, the court heard, before the other two defendants allegedly joined in the violent attack.

An ambulance was called but Mr Gardner, who worked for UCB in Sutton before joining Legal & General in Tadworth, Surrey last year, died the following night from his injuries.

Ransom was arrested immediately after the attack while Collender was tracked down later that evening. Dixon evaded police for two months but was finally was arrested on January 9.

Ransom and Collender were seized by police just days after the death of Mr Gardner, while Dixon was arrested in January after a two month police hunt.

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