Two Barnet boys, 12 and 14, charged with Thornton Heath attempted murder

Two boys from Barnet, aged 12 and 14, appeared at the Old Bailey on 13 August charged with the attempted murder of an adult male in Thornton Heath. The incident occurred on 7 August. The defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat side-by-side in the dock and confirmed their identities at the start of the hearing.

Hearing halted after defendant becomes unwell

The proceedings were temporarily halted when one of the boys clutched his chest and appeared to become distressed. MyLondon reported that the boy gasped for breath and became tearful. A court usher called for first aid, prompting Judge Mark Lucraft KC to pause the hearing.

The judge later resumed the hearing without the defendants present. He praised court staff for their swift response, noting that attending court can often trigger a panic attack. The boys were remanded into local authority accommodation following the hearing.

Provisional trial date set for January 2027

Judge Lucraft set a provisional trial date for 4 January 2027. The prosecution indicated that up to seven individuals may eventually face charges in connection with the incident. A further case management hearing is scheduled for 6 November 2026.

The victim, an unnamed adult male, was the target of a group attack in Thornton Heath, as reported by MyLondon. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and no further details about the victim or the alleged motive have been disclosed.