A teenager has been charged with the murder of 33-year-old Rodney Piper, more than two years after he was fatally beaten following a dispute over a stolen phone.

Mr Piper, of Golden Grove, was attacked on 9 September 2023 after confronting a group he believed had taken his phone. He suffered severe injuries and was left in a coma.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where he died eight days later on 17 September.

A coroner’s jury later ruled his death a murder.

An 18-year-old was charged in March this year. However, as he was a minor at the time of the alleged offence, he is being treated as such under the law.

He was initially remanded in custody but was granted bail by the High Court on 1 April.