Accused teenager claims he ‘swiped’ knife at this murder victim to scare him

A 16-year-old boy accused of knifing a teenager to death said he took a ‘swipe’ at the victim just to scare him.

Nicola Leighton, 36, her son Tyreese Ulysses, 19, together with three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, allegedly murdered Levi Ernest-Morrison, 17, in Sydenham, southeast London.

Leighton and the four teenagers all deny murdering Levi on April 10.

Giving evidence, the 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named, said he didn’t know they were going to Hazel Grove where the killing took place

During the journey he said he had taken the knife out of his trousers because it felt uncomfortable.

Caroline Carberry, QC, defending, asked: ‘What was the atmosphere like in the car?’

‘Nicola was annoyed,’ he replied.

‘She was saying ‘those boys think they can come to my house.. I don’t know what she said afterwards.’

He told jurors he didn’t know where they were going and that he left the car believing the intetion was only to scare Levi.

His barrister asked: ‘Did you hurt anybody?’

‘No,’ he replied.

‘We can see you in the footage swiping down in the direction of Levi.

‘Were you trying to make contact,’ asked Ms Carberry.

‘Did you make contact?’

‘No,’ he said.

‘Why did you do that?’

‘To warn him off,’ he said, making a gesture to indicate that Levi was reaching for something behind his back.

He said he stopped swiping after Levi fell over the cobblestones and one of his associates then ran past him and stabbed the victim.

‘How did you react when that happened,’ asked Ms Carberry.

‘I didn’t know if I should help him or not,’ he said.

‘I stood and watched. I didn’t see the blood, just the scream he let out.’

After the stabbing, the teenager said he went to his brother’s house who told him he could ‘get into a lot of trouble for this’.

Ulysses called him later that night and told him to ‘lay low’, the court heard.

Leighton is said to have ’rounded up’ four youths including her son to kill Levi.

She drove the killers to Sydenham Road and encouraged them to chase after Levi and his friend, the court has heard.

But giving evidence earlier Leighton told the court she had no idea of what was going on.

Leighton, of Lockwood Close, Sydenham, and one of the 15 year-old boys, deny murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Ulysses, of Catford, and the other two youths, deny murder.

The trial continues.