Two men have been sentenced to a combined 44 years in prison for the murder of 20-year-old Bradley Hutchins and the serious injury of his 19-year-old brother, Calum. Shane Canavan, 23, and his half-brother Joshua Langley, 29, both from Greyfields Close in Purley, were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms of 23 years and 21 years, respectively, for their roles in the fatal stabbing.
The tragic incident occurred on September 12, 2023, when police responded to reports of a violent confrontation involving weapons on North Walk in New Addington. Officers arrived at the scene to find both Bradley and Calum, who had been repeatedly stabbed. Despite efforts to save Bradley, he was pronounced dead, while Calum survived but sustained serious injuries.
Canavan was arrested on September 16, and Langley was apprehended the following day. Forensic evidence recovered from the scene, including a crowbar, a monkey wrench, a knife, and a balaclava, linked the pair to the crime. The brothers had used these weapons in the brutal attack.
Bradley’s mother expressed her heartbreak in a statement, remembering her son’s infectious smile and kind, protective nature. She spoke of the devastating impact on Calum, who shared a close bond with his brother. She vowed to continue fighting against knife crime and honor Bradley’s memory, referring to him as “our hero.”
Detective Inspector Matt Read from the Specialist Crime Command acknowledged the hard work of the police in bringing the perpetrators to justice. He expressed hope that the sentence would bring some peace to Bradley’s family and praised the witnesses who helped with the investigation. Read extended his condolences to Bradley’s family, friends, and loved ones, assuring them that the young man’s legacy would live on.
