Boy stabbed to death over moped deal, court hears

Kamari Johnson died after he was stabbed in Hayes, west London

A teenager stabbed a 16-year-old boy to death with a machete in revenge after being "scammed" over a moped deal, a court has heard

The alleged stabber, aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to have attacked Kamari Johnson in west London in May last year.

Kamari was stabbed in the heart after riding off with the moped that the defendant had just paid for, and his cash, the Old Bailey was told.

The defendant denies murder, manslaughter and possession of a bladed article.

Police found Kamari in Bourne Avenue, Hayes, on the afternoon of 24 May.

Despite the efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Opening the prosecution case, Joel Smith KC said the two boys, who used to play football together, had met so that the defendant could buy a moped from Kamari.

The court heard the two "haggled" over the price before the meeting – Kamari holding out for £180, the defendant trying to get it down to £160.

'Pretty angry'

When the pair met in Carnarvon Drive, Hayes, to carry out the deal, the defendant was "scammed" by Kamari, the court heard.

Mr Smith said that, after taking the defendant's money, Kamari "went back on his side of the deal and simply rode off".

"No doubt that left (the defendant) feeling pretty embarrassed and pretty angry," he said.

"But whatever Mr Johnson had done, you may feel, he didn't deserve what happened next."

The court heard that the defendant headed to Kamari's house, where he stabbed him through the chest with a "machete style knife".

Although the 16-year-old managed to flee on the moped, chased by the defendant, he collapsed minutes later and died in the street.

The defendant's father brought him to Hayes Police Station the following day to hand himself in.

While the defence team had claimed he "acted in self-defence at all times", Mr Smith asked the jury to consider why he was running after Kamari fleeing on the moped.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.