Teen saw friend killed on her birthday, court told

The friend of a 20-year-old man saw him fatally stabbed on her 18th birthday, a court has heard.

Ella Doe said in a recorded police interview played to the jury on Tuesday that she had been with Billy Ripley when he died after being stabbed.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial at Lewes Crown Court, accused of his murder in Hailsham, East Sussex, on 29 August 2024.

The teenager denies the charge of murder.

The prosecution alleges the victim and defendant were known to each other and were "fighting with knives".

Ms Doe said, in the recording taken the day after Mr Ripley died, that she was sitting on a bench with him in the town centre, when the defendant approached and allegedly told him to "come round the corner".

After which she said she heard shouting.

"I stood up, then he [Mr Ripley] started walking with his hand on his chest saying 'call an ambulance, I've just been stabbed'," she said.

"He had blood dripping all over his hand. He didn't want to show he was in pain. He started to panic a bit.

"He went to walk. I went to see where he was going. I found him."

Mr Ripley collapsed after being stabbed in the heart and died at the scene, despite members of the public and later paramedics trying to save him, the jury heard.

Ms Doe said the pair were not in a relationship, but were 'just getting to know each other'.

The court was shown CCTV footage taken from town centre businesses, which the prosecution said showed the movements of the defendant and Mr Ripley,

The 17-year-old was then seen leaving the scene and cycling away on his bike, the jury heard.

The case continues.

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