Mother jokes as son, 13, is accused of sword murder

The "tiny" boy is accused of stabbing Paul Erhahon, 14, with a 20in "sword or machete" while 11 others attacked him with baseball bats.

Paul's friend, 15, was stabbed five times in the attack, but managed to stagger away and was driven to hospital by his brother.

A 14-year-old youth has also been charged with murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm after the attack on Paul.

The 13-year-old accused's mother, 43, seemed light-hearted and appeared to share a joke with her son's two uncles outside court during an adjournment at Waltham Forest Youth Court in North-East London.

Paul, a talented rap musician, died of a single stab wound to the heart as a gang, whose faces were covered by balaclavas and hoodies, attacked in the foyer of a block of flats in Leytonstone, East London, on Good Friday.

The 13-year-old suspect, wearing a blue tracksuit, could barely see out of the glass-fronted dock as he was charged with murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

During the 30-minute hearing he appeared to squirm in his chair, look at the ceiling and exchange glances with his mother, sitting a few feet away.

He rolled his eyes and shrugged as he was sent to secure accommodation by chairman of the bench Maureen Lakeman, sitting with two other magistrates. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on April 24.

Paul Erhahon was the seventh schoolboy to be murdered in London since the end of January. He attended Kingsford Community-School, the same school as Adam Regis, the nephew of Olympic sprinter John Regis who was murdered in East London last month.

The prosecutor, John Robson, said that the family of his 15-year-old friend had received threats since the stabbings.

He told the court: "Paul was shouting and pleading not to be shanked," which is slang for being stabbed.

Police are now looking at CCTV footage recovered from close to the murder scene.

A 14-year-old was also charged with murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm, over the same attack, and is due in court today.

Detectives are still questioning another 14-year-old, and a 19-year-old has been bailed by police pending further inquiries.