A teenage graffiti artist chased a rival gang memb
A teenage graffiti artist chased a rival gang member across an estate before knifing him in the back and chest, the Old Bailey heard today.
(Fri)
Devon Allen, 18, was murdered by a 16-year-old knifeman in revenge for spraying over the killers’ ‘tag’ and writing his own nickname.
His attacker set his Staffordshire bull terrier on Mr Allen, but when the dog ignored the victim he set about the terrified youngster with a knife, the jury has heard.
A friend of the victim today told how the alleged killer threatened him and another pal just minutes before Mr Allen was stabbed.
The 17-year-old witness, who was living on the Hilgrove estate in South Hampstead, said there was rivalry between his friends and a gang from the nearby Rowley Way estate.
‘It was just dirty looks.
There were arguments,’ he told the court.
He said he had heard about fights between the gang, but not any trouble between Mr Allen and the defendant.
The teenager admitted using the street name of ‘Bams’ to tag and vandalise the local area.
The court has heard Mr Allen was known as ‘Blast’ on the street, while the rival youth was called ‘Reach.
‘
On the day of the murder, the witness said he with was with friends fixing a moped when the defendant approached them.
‘I saw him cross the road and he said to me and my friend: ”Come here,” the lad recalled.
He said that his friend, who was 15 at the time, was the target of the youth’s rage.
‘He grabbed him and started shouting about him ‘lining’ him.
‘
‘I heard my friend say: ”Don’t ‘bore’ me” explaining the term meant to stab someone.
‘I didn’t notice he had a knife at the time.
I grabbed him and he turned round and my friend ran off.
‘I spotted the knife so I backed off a bit.
He said to me: ”I’ll bore you up.
Don’t make me do it.
”
‘He put his head on me.
You know, head to head, and then I just walked off.
‘
The boy said he later found his friend who was in tears because of the threats made to him.
On their way to the Hilgrove estate the boys were approached by the accused killer again.
‘He said to me: ”It’s not between you and me but I want to fight your friends.
Take me to your friends.
”
‘I just laughed and walked off,’ the witness added.
They met up with Mr Allen in Langtry Walk and the witness told him the knife-wielding lad was looking for trouble.
‘As soon as I said that, the boy was there running towards Devon saying:”I’m going to bore you up” and Devon ran off towards the post box,’ he said.
‘Devon got to the postbox and he came back with metal car steering thing.
‘He came round the corner and they both ran at each other and started fighting.
‘They came towards each other and the boy was swinging a knife and Devon hit him with the metal steering lock.
‘
But after hitting him again, Mr Allen dropped his weapon on the floor.
The 15-year-old friend of the witness tried to punch the younger boy, who was crouched down with both arms aiming blows at Devon, the court heard.
Suddenly the fight stopped and the victim walked to a nearby telephone box.
When the witness followed him he discovered Mr Allen was badly hurt.
‘I panicked.
I jumped on Devon’s bike and went to the pub to see if my Dad was there.
‘
When asked by Mr Laidlaw if the youth had attempted to set his dog on Mr Allen the witness replied:
‘Just before he started running towards him he took his dog off the lead and said: ”Kill.
” But the dog didn’t do anything.
The knife had penetrated Mr Allen’s heart and he died in hospital later that day after losing a huge amount of blood.
His alleged murderer was arrested a hour after the attack at his home on Rowley Way Estate.
The sixteen-year-old defendant denies murdering Devon Allen on July 17, 2000.
The trial continues.
ends
