Haverhill teenager murder trial jury retires to consider verdict

The jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering another boy in a dispute over a girl.

Harley Barfield, 16, was stabbed in Haverhill, Suffolk, on 9 January and died two days later.

His attacker, who cannot be named due to his age, admits killing him but denies murder.

Mr Justice Linden said jurors must consider if the attacker's diagnosis of autism affected his decision making.

Over the last four weeks, Ipswich Crown Court heard that Harley suffered at least 12 knife wounds, including one stab wound that pierced his heart, during the attack in Strasbourg Square.

The trial heard that the pair had had arguments over a girl and were involved in a confrontation just prior to the stabbing.

The defence argued the defendant's mental state was impaired at the time.

During an interview, the defendant told a psychologist "if I hadn't seen him, I probably would have stabbed myself".

When asked whether Harley deserved to be stabbed, the court was told the defendant had said: "I don't know."

The jury was sent home for the day to resume its deliberations on Tuesday.

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