Bus killer ‘went through victim’s pockets’

A 16-year-old boy went through the pockets of a college student after wrestling him down the stairs of a double decker bus to stab him to death, a court heard.

Damani Mauge, 17, was knifed in the chest before being frisked for valuables as he lay dying, the Old Bailey heard.

A post-mortem found that a necklace the victim was wearing at the time of his death had been ripped from his collar.

He died after a fight erupted between him and the teenager on a 130 bus driving up Whitehorse Lane in Croydon at about 8.30pm on 8 March, it was said.

The alleged killer rifled through the victim’s pockets before fleeing the scene, prosecutors claim.

Emergency services were called but despite the best efforts of medics the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.07pm.

The 16-year-old – who cannot be named due to his age – appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey today and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Prosecutor Joel Smith said: ‘The deceased kicked the defendant down the stairs – the two were wrestling.

‘The deceased kicked the defendant in his knee but the defendant managed to get away.

‘The deceased was then lying prone on the pavement, there was a knife on his hand at the time.

‘The knife was picked up.

‘The defendant turned over the body of the deceased, rifled through his coat and a post mortem notes a necklace worn by the deceased was broken which is where the attempted robbery charge comes from.

‘[It was] a Rambo style knife, 25cm long.’

The 16-year-old, of Mitcham, is charged with murder, attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC remanded him into custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on 26 March.

ends