Dad denies trying to 'impede' probe into his killer son

A FATHER has gone on trial accused of trying to 'impede' an investigation into his killer son after a teenager was stabbed to death.

- ANDREW BARDSLEY [e-mail]

Alfie Benson

Alfie Benson, then 16, was found guilty of manslaughter after he drove three associates to the scene of a murder.

Tafari Smith, Lewis Ludford and Yousef Sesay were convicted of murder after 17-year-old Kyle Hackland was stabbed to death in Withington in November 2022.

Benson then drove the trio away, as they left Kyle to die in the street.

Now Benson's father, Carl Benson, 44, has gone on trial accused of assisting an offender.

He is accused of helping to remove the stolen VW Golf which his son had been driving, as part of an alleged bid to 'impede' the investigation into his child.

He denies the charge and is standing trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Prosecuting, Rachael Woods said that Alfie Benson had been driving a stolen VW Golf on the day of the killing, and had picked up Tafari Smith, then 16, and Lewis Ludford and Yousef Sesay, then both 17.

Ms Woods claimed that the four were looking for a man named James Todd.

Later they became aware of his whereabouts, and Benson drove the Golf there 'so that the other three young men could jump out and stab James Todd.