THE JURY who found four men guilty of murdering a student at a New Year’s Eve party has been praised by his family.

Billy Henham was beaten unconscious, stripped naked and thrown off a balcony at a disused building in Brighton on January 1, 2020.

The 24-year-old, from Henfield, suffered 11 rib fractures, extensive bruising to his scalp, face and neck and a brain injury.

Dushane Meikle, 27, Gregory Hawley, 28, Lamech Gordon-Carew, 20, and 18-year-old Alize Spence have all been found guilty of murder at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent.

The trial was originally estimated to last up to six weeks when it began on November 23 last year, but lasted 13 weeks amid a host of issues.

The jury was made up of 11 men and one woman after one juror was discharged after contracting Covid-19.

Billy’s father Ian, mother Debbie and brother Rory attended court every day of the trial.

"We are so grateful to the jury. We have been flabbergasted by the way they have stuck to it," Ian said.

"There have been incidents of personal bereavement, sickness, car accidents and even a holiday cancellation but they have still come to court.

"They certainly haven't stopped giving their service. It's been 100 per cent and it's been wonderful."

The Argus: The final sighting of Billy was at 4.30am in All Sorts off-licence in North Street The final sighting of Billy was at 4.30am in All Sorts off-licence in North Street

The jury's dedication, which included one juror giving up a planned half-term holiday, was praised by Mr Justice Cavanagh.

The “absolute and great dignity” shown by the families of both Billy and Gordon-Carew was also credited by Mr Justice Cavanagh.

The four men will be sentenced at a later date.

Billy, who studied at Ravensbourne University in London, had spent Christmas with his family but wanted to see in the new year in a “lively” atmosphere, the court was previously told.

The final sighting of Billy was at 4.30am in All Sorts off-licence in North Street, diagonally opposite the squat where a New Year's Eve party was held.

His body, which had been dropped over balcony railings from a height of nearly 11ft, was discovered by police the following day.

Forensic experts discovered disinfectant in his hair while bloodstained areas where he had been beaten appeared to have been “diluted”, the court heard.

The jury was told that while his injuries would have rendered him unconscious, Billy would have been alive for at least an hour after the violent attack.

When Meikle was arrested in Hove six days later, police found two deleted photos on his phone of Billy’s body on the roof terrace.