Man found guilty of murder after drug deal stabbing

Noah Smedley, 18, died after he was stabbed through the heart

An 18-year-old man who stabbed another man through the heart during a drug deal with a Rambo-style knife has been found guilty of murder.

Charles Hartle delivered a single blow with a knife to Noah Smedley, who had met Hartle and his three friends off Heanor Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, to sell them cannabis on 28 December.

The stabbing was captured on a neighbour's CCTV, which showed Hartle running away from the scene. Mr Smedley, 18, also attempted to run away but he collapsed nearby and died.

Judge Shaun Smith KC thanked the jury, and turning to Hartle, said: "You have been found guilty, you know what those consequences are. In the meantime, you will be remanded back into custody."

The defendant, of Station Road, Stanley, Derbyshire, had admitted possessing a bladed article in a public place but denied murder.

Charles Hartle had admitted possessing a bladed article in a public place, but denied murder

The court previously heard that Hartle had an "unhealthy interest" in knives and carried the weapon to show others he was a "big man".

Prosecutor Adrian Langdale KC previously said: "He moved towards Noah, he grinned or smiled before deliberately aiming for and stabbing him in the chest.

"There is no dispute that this lethal weapon was in the hands of that young man, Charlie Hartle."

Mr Langdale added the Crown Prosecution Service would say Mr Smedley did "absolutely nothing wrong" and was not armed himself.

The trial, at Derby Crown Court, was shown hundreds of Snapchat messages between Hartle, three of his friends, his girlfriend and Mr Smedley.

The jury was then shown a message from Hartle to his girlfriend shortly before he met Mr Smedley, which read: "We're going to slap him up."

Hartle handed himself in at Ilkeston Police Station in the early hours of 29 December where he was arrested

The court was told Hartle and his friends arranged to meet Mr Smedley, who arrived at the scene on an electric scooter and sold them cannabis before the fatal attack.

Mr Langdale continued: "This defendant deliberately hangs back at the back of the group, whilst the others are chatting with Noah and he gives them the cannabis.

"All seemingly, in these matters of seconds, are in good spirits - there is no animosity.

"This defendant will pull his balaclava down over his face, he moves forward in the group to get closer to Noah and reaches into the back of his tracksuit.

"Hartle immediately takes one stride forward and in the same motion thrusts the knife forward and through Noah's heart."

The jury heard Hartle and his friends ran from the scene leaving Mr Smedley "staggering and bleeding profusely".

The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's heart and his left lung, causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the prosecutor said.

CCTV captured Mr Smedley trying to run away but he collapsed nearby and died

After the stabbing, Hartle, who liked to go by the nickname "Lil Cee", then fled and went to meet his girlfriend at a house party, Derbyshire Police said.

Witnesses at the party saw him confess to her and produce the knife – which has never been recovered, the force added.

Police said Hartle then travelled to Derby city centre in an attempt to distance himself from the scene.

In the hours after Mr Smedley's murder, Hartle disposed of his clothing, the murder weapon, and phone, before eventually handing himself in at Ilkeston Police Station, the force said.

One witness also described Hartle as someone who "wanted to be a gang member", who had photos of himself in a balaclava and was known to carry knives.

Gasps of "yes" were heard from the public gallery as the foreman returned the jury's unanimous verdict after two hours and 49 minutes of deliberation.

Hartle initially showed no emotion but then broke down in tears in the dock.

The judge also said he would give out High Sherriff awards to three people who tried to save Mr Smedley's life at the scene.

Hartle will be sentenced on 22 August.

'Sense of bravado'

Det Con Emma Barnes-Marriott, from Derbyshire Police, said Mr Smedley was an unarmed teenager, who was "simply meeting with friends".

"Noah did not threaten Hartle, and showed nothing but friendliness towards him that evening, and yet he was brutally murdered," she said.

"Charles Hartle is a callous and calculating young man, who has shown no recognition or remorse for taking another teenager's life.

"He carried a knife with the intention to use it, over what appears to be a petty disagreement that only he was aware of, and a sense of bravado."