Stabbed to death on film on his OWN mobile phone: Jury played horrifying footage in Leroy James trial

 
Stabbed to death: Leroy James was killed by another boy with a concealed blade, say prosecutors
Paul Cheston12 June 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Horrifying film of a 14-year-old boy being stabbed to death next to an Olympic logo in a London park was recorded on the dead boy’s own mobile phone, the Old Bailey heard today.

The video footage of Leroy James being knifed through the heart by another 14-year-old boy watched by a crowd of other teenagers was played to the jury today.

The 12-second video clearly shocked jurors when the victim’s white T-shirt suddenly turned blood red and he fell to the ground.

Leroy had been seen advancing on the defendant and swinging punches as the crowd of youngsters shouted.

Then in a swift movement the tables were turned and he fell to the ground amid screams.

The court heard that the alleged killer, now aged 15, ran off.

Despite emergency treatment where he lay from a consultant surgeon flown in by helicopter, Leroy died at the scene from a four inch long wound.

The exact reason why the two teenagers had fallen out is uncertain but could be related to a girlfriend, the jury was told.

The alleged killer, who can not be named because of his age, had hid the knife – which he called his “alligator” – in his pocket.

The confrontation between the two boys had been arranged after a series of threats had been exchanged over Facebook, the court heard.

It took place last August in Ponders End recreation ground in an area known as “the gym”, said Duncan Penny, prosecuting.

“It is a collection of outdoor exercise or gym equipment arranged in the now familiar pattern of the London Olympic 2012 logo,” said the prosecutor.

“But what unfolded that afternoon on the London 2012 logo, just less than a year before the games, in no way reflected the Olympic ideals to be celebrated in this city in coming weeks.

“For while there was violence it did not proceed according to the Queensberry Rules. To those watching what was expected to be a fist fight transpired to be anything but.”

Mr Penny said that just two weeks earlier the defendant had told a friend that having his right hand in his pocket “means I have a knife.”

Added the prosecutor: “When you watch these very events on video recorded footage – of all ironies from the camera on the mobile telephone of the dead boy – the killer did indeed have his right hand in his pocket just prior to the fatal act.”

Both boys had been egged on by the crowd of other youths and Leroy, described as “the larger aggressive boy” emptied his pockets before moving towards his rival, the court heard.

“Unarmed fists which missed were met by the well judged thrust of a hitherto concealed weapon or blade… and it was wielded swiftly and lethally,” said Mr Penny.

“In those few, very few seconds the fate of the larger aggressive boy was sealed for the well aimed blade went straight to the heart of the larger boy. While he remained on his feet for a few more seconds soon he fell and his lifeblood ebbed away.”

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to murder and possessing an offensive weapon.

The case continues.

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