Teen stabbed to death at 'crack den flat'

A teenage boy was brutally stabbed to death at a Wolverhampton flat used as a "crack den", a jury has been told.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Terrell Marshall-Williams, 16, was wounded nine times with a "Rambo" knife while at the property on Warnford Walk, Merry Hill, on 18 September.

One of the stab wounds severed his spinal cord and would have paralysed his lower limbs, prosecutor Tim Hannan KC told the murder trial on Monday.

Omari Lauder, 23, of Wolverhampton Street, Darlaston, and Mpho Obi, 22, of Strathfield Walk, Merry Hill, both deny murder and possessing an offensive weapon.

Mr Hannam said Terrell had been "moving in a dangerous and unpleasant world", adding that young people would use the flat to "hang out and take drugs".

He said Mr Obi described it as a crack den in his police interview.

Mr Lauder has further denied charges of possessing crack cocaine and heroin.

Mr Obi has admitted drugs charges and stabbing Terrell, claiming he had tried to hit someone with a bicycle during a fight and was then hit over the head with a plastic item.

In his account, Obi said he had picked up a "Rambo knife" from the floor as Lauder was being attacked, the court heard.

After taking jurors through maps and phone evidence, Mr Hannam said: "These defendants had deliberately gone to that flat armed with a large and very lethal knife.

"Whether they went there to buy, deal or steal drugs, or for some other reason, only they can say.

"What can be said with certainty is that Terrell was brutally slain in a ferocious attack using the knife that they brought with them.

"He was killed immediately on their arrival."

He said it was the Crown’s case that both defendants acted together with the intention to kill or cause serious harm to Terrell.

The trial continues.

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