Teen stabbed and left for dead, murder trial told

A 17-year-old boy was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in a pedestrian street near a bus station, a prosecutor has told jurors.

Thomas Taylor died after being attacked in Bedford in January, barrister Mark Heywood KC told a trial at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday.

He said "sudden" and "ugly" violence involving two groups of "young men" had broken out.

Ahmed Adam, 18, Bennett Ndenkeh, 19, Riaz Miah, 18, She'ma Dixon, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, all deny murdering Thomas.

Police had said Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street, Bedford, just before 18:00 GMT on 8 January.

Mr Heywood told jurors how Thomas had been walking with other boys near Bedford bus station.

He said the group was approached by members of a larger group.

Thomas had been attacked, brought to the ground and fatally stabbed, Mr Heywood added.

He said youths involved had "fled" and passers by were "left to deal with the aftermath".

Mr Heywood added: "He [Thomas] was effectively left for dead on the pavement."

He said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr Miah.

Evidence suggested that Mr Miah had been assaulted by two people associated with Thomas and the incident had become an "issue".

Mr Heywood said messages had been exchanged between Mr Miah and Thomas.

He said the attack on Thomas was "deliberate".

"This was no chance encounter," he told jurors. "The focus of the attack was on a single individual."

A judge had previously made orders barring Mr Miah and Mr Dixon from being named in media reports of the case.

But trial judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has said that reporting restriction orders are no longer in place because both Mr Miah and Mr Dixon have turned 18.

He said an order barring the 17-year-old boy, who will not turn 18 until February, from being named in media reports remained in force.

Mr Heywood showed jurors photographs of the teenagers and told where some of them lived in Bedford.

He said Mr Adam lived in Mardale Close, Mr Ndenkeh, in Midland Road, and Mr Dixon, in Baldur Close.

Mr Miah - and the 17-year-old boy - also lived in Bedford, he said.

The trial continues and is expected to last several weeks.

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