Youth says he fatally stabbed boy after Snapchat threats

Jamie Johnson

A TEENAGER fatally stabbed a 16-yearold boy with a knife at a railway station after getting threats on Snapchat, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Louis Johnson at East Croydon station in south London on Jan 27.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, has admitted having a knife but denies murder.

The court heard that the youth had come to the attention of police for carrying knives in the past.

Giving evidence, the teenager, originally from Tooting, admitted that he regularly carried knives, having started at the age of 13, to “look cool”.

He told jurors: “Lots of people my age carry knives. I had been targeted by people from Clapham Junction.”

The defendant said he had seen a message on Snapchat threatening to stab him. On the day of the stabbing, the defendant said he set off to visit his mother in Tooting.

He was carrying a blade even though he had no reason to think he might bump into Louis at East Croydon station, he said.

The defendant told jurors he had walked up on to the overbridge at the station after finding himself on the wrong platform.

He said he stood at the top of platforms three and four, looking at the screen, before walking towards platform two.

When he looked down, he noticed Louis and another boy in front of him, he said.

“I heard a shout, ‘You’, aggressively towards me.

“I thought he was going to stab me. I put my phone in my pocket. I saw him reaching for his waistband.”

The defendant said: “I pulled out my knife and thrust it towards him.” He said he did not want to kill Louis. The trial continues.