Morning:
13°c
Teenager 'stabbed to death over £15 debt from night club'
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent15.06.09
A teenager was stabbed to death in the street for the sake of a £15 debt, the Old Bailey heard today.
The last words of Michael Wright, 17, were "don't shank (stab) me" before the 12cm blade was thrust into his stomach, the jury was told.
Michael, who was unarmed, was knifed within three and a half minutes of a mobile phone call with the alleged 16-year-old killer. He died an hour and 20 minutes later.
The knifeman, wearing a hoodie, was seen walking away "calmly and casually" as Michael staggered over the road and collapsed outside Maryland station, near Stratford.
The alleged killer, who cannot be named for legal reasons and sat in the dock with his mother, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The court heard he will tell the jury he was acting in self defence. Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC, prosecuting, said the victim and alleged killer had lived next door to each other in Leyton.
Six days before the killing last February they went to Rex club in Stratford where Michael lent the defendant £20 to get in.
On the day of the attack Michael and three friends went to the defendant's house to get the money but although there was a light on nobody came to the door, the court heard.
A call between them was made at 10.25pm and minutes later they met in Forest Lane where Michael was stabbed.
The case continues.
