Vape shop murder accused denies role 'in tragedy'

A man accused of murdering a 17-year-old in a vape shop has said he played "no part in this tragedy", a court has heard.

Reuben Higgins was fatally stabbed on Station Road in Marston Green, Solihull, on 29 October last year and died at the scene.

Abdurrahman Summers, 18, and two 15-year-old boys, who cannot be named due to their age, have denied murdering Mr Higgins and are on trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Mr Summers said in a statement he had met up with friends on the day in question and had gone to a shop to buy drinks and snacks. He denied knowing the victim or attacking him.

Mr Summers, from Yardley, added he played "no part in this tragedy".

He is also charged with possession of a bladed article, which he denies.

In court on Monday, the teenagers' defence lawyers said the defendants would not be giving evidence at their trial, but statements they had submitted during earlier police interviews were read out.

The court previously heard that a fourth suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is believed to have fled the country.

A prosecution lawyer read the statements to the jury as part of a set of "agreed facts" between the two sides, which he outlined before closing his case.

The "agreed facts" included a forensic examination that found the three teenagers' fingerprints on the Vape Minimarket's double-door entrance, plus those of Reuben Higgins, the lawyer said.

A mobile phone belonging to one of the 15-year-olds was also found at the shop, while a cached video of Mr Summers with a knife was later recovered from his phone, the court heard.

Earlier in the trial, a witness who was working in the shop that day said Mr Higgins had run inside and tried to block the door, before three or four men began striking the shop's entrance trying to get in.

In his statement for police interviews, one of the 15-year-old defendants said he was hanging out with friends in Marston Green when things "got aggressive" between members of his and another group.

He said he ended up being involved in "an altercation" in the shop but "I did not stab him", adding that "it all happened so fast."

The other 15-year-old boy did not submit statements in his police interviews, and had instead given a "no comment" response to questions.

As part of the "agreed facts" outlined on Monday, the jury also heard the fourth suspect's mother had booked flights for her and her son to Pakistan in October with a return date in November, but the son had not used his return ticket.

After the prosecution closed its case, the three defence lawyers for the teenagers said they would not bring any further evidence.

The trial continues.

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