Summary

  • Day four of the trial of four people accused of murdering Jodie Chesney, 17.

  • Jodie's boyfriend describes catching her after the stabbing

  • Jodie was stabbed to death while with friends in Harold Hill 1 March

  • Court heard she was killed after drugs were bought from rival dealer

  • One of those accused of the murder 'refused to help police'

  • Manuel Petrovic, 20, and Svenson Ong-a-kwie, 19, deny murder

  • Two boys aged 16 and 17, also deny killing the girl

  1. Jury reminded not to discuss casepublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    The jury are warned by the judge not to discuss the case.

    She says: “It’s a very upsetting case but don’t worry about it. Leave it here ( in the courtroom) and have a good weekend.”

  2. Bryce Henderson's cross-examination endspublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    The witness is stepping down now and his cross-examination is over.

    Today's proceedings have now ended for the day and will resume at 10:15 on Monday.

  3. Witness did not see men approach before attackpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Mr Henderson is now being questioned by another defendant’s QC, Charlie Sherrard.

    Mr Henderson tells him that he never had any issues with Spencer.

    He says he did not know if the two men in the park who sat on the bench for a while were the same two who carried out the attack on Jodie later.

    He adds he did not see them approach the group before the attack.

  4. Bryce Henderson denies buying drugs from Manuel Petrovicpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Asked by Sarah Foreshawe QC, defending Mr Petrovic, if he had ever bought drugs from Manuel Petrovic, Mr Henderson says he didn’t know that name.

    He adds he would normally buy drugs from "Jade".

    Ms Foreshaw QC also asks Mr Henderson if anybody had called for more drugs. He says no, “nobody had any money for it”.

  5. Tall man in grey hoodiepublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Mr Henderson says: “It was the grey hoodie who was turning around as the pair left the park. From that point I was just looking at Jodie.”

    He adds they both looked male. One was taller. One was about 5ft 4in to 5ft 8in and the other 6ft 5in.

    The taller one was in the grey hoodie, Mr Henderson tells the court.

  6. 'I saw Jodie and she looked shocked'published at 15:48 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Bryce Henderson admits to the jury that cannabis "was in their systems", but insists everybody was "fully aware" of their surroundings.

    "We were not impaired," he adds.

    He then describes the moment the two males came into the park and Jodie was stabbed.

    "I saw Jodie, she looked shocked. Then Ed turned and shouted 'she's been stabbed'.

    "When I heard the noise I saw briefly two figures, that was about it."

  7. Another drug supplier "Jade" provided cannabispublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Bryce Henderson had hoped to buy a new strain of cannabis called "Pineapple Express" or skunk, from his regular dealer Spencer, the jury was told.

    He called Spencer to try to buy some on the 9481 mobile number which went unanswered.

    After another attempt to reach Spencer he hung up, the court heard.

    Mr Henderson then got a message from another friend called Kane saying Spencer had had a crash and gone to hospital.

    Mr Henderson told the court he decided to call another drug supplier named Jade to buy some cannabis.

    He waited for Jade near the park and a Blue Mercedes pulled up, Mr Henderson said he did the deal in the back of the car with one of her "shotters" (runner who delivers drugs).

    He then went to meet Jodie's group who were in the play area at about 19:41.

    The group, now of seven people, smoked roughly 1.3 grams, about three joints, according to Mr Henderson.

  8. Bryce Henderson talks about the drug dealer called 'Spencer'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Bryce Henderson

    Mr Aylett explains to Mr Henderson that he will not be in trouble for his cannabis purchase and had indeed handed his phone over to the police to help them.

    He said he had two numbers in his phone linked to the name Spencer.

    "Spencer is a dealer of cannabis I would go to when I was in Harold Hill," Mr Henderson tells the jury.

    Mr Henderson says he lives in Romford, but had been to Amy's Park many times.

    The teenager said he would meet Spencer on St Neot's Road - near to the park - to get the cannabis.

    Mr Henderson said he had met Spencer two or three times before but that whenever he met Spencer it was dark so he could not really see who Spencer was.

    But, he told the court "couldn't really describe him," as it was months ago.

  9. Friend finishes evidence - next up Bryce Hendersonpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    The friend has now finished giving evidence and has left the courtroom.

    Crispin Aylett QC has now called 18-year-old Bryce Henderson, who has taken the oath and is now facing questions from the prosecutor.

  10. 'Do you know any reason why anyone would hurt Jodie?'published at 15:13 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC finishes his examination by asking if the teenager knew "of any reason why anyone would want to hurt Jodie?"

    She replies: "No."

    Sarah Forshaw QC - representing Manuel Petrovic - is the only defence barrister to ask any questions in cross-examination.

    "There was a couple of seconds of quiet between songs," she asks. "Do I take it quite loud rock music started up again?

    "Yes," the teenager replies.

    Miss Forshaw asks: "Did they say anything at all to your group?"

    "No," she says.

  11. 'Jodie started to breathe really heavily'published at 15:12 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    There are around 30 people up in the public gallery now, listening to the teenager continue to give her evidence.

    The witness said she was sat next to Jodie in the park - with Jodie and Bryce Henderson either side of her - before the 17-year-old was stabbed.

    The teenager said there was a brief break in between songs and she could "hear people coming up from behind her".

    "I heard this horrible sound from where Jodie was sitting," she adds. "I thought they might be taking our bags or something.

    "When it happened Jodie started to breathe really heavily and that's when she started to scream.

    "Bryce said 'has she been stabbed?' everyone else stood up and looked at what was happening.

    She fell unconscious a few seconds later. I looked around and saw the two of them run."

  12. Judge reassures 'shaking' witnesspublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    The judge tells the witness "I can see you're shaking" and reassures her that there's no need to be afraid.

    She reminds her to take it steady.

  13. Friend said two men sat on bench near grouppublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Giving evidence, Jodie's friend confirmed to Mr Aylett that she had seen two men arrive and sit on the next bench table

    She said she only saw one man more clearly "as they were sat opposite each other".

    She described the one she could see as dark-skinned, aged about 18-20. She couldn't say what height he was.

    He wore a black puffer jacket with a "brown-blondie" fur hood, the witness said.

    They were in the park "maybe half hour" she said.

    It was dark now in the park and she said she saw the pair leave through the main park entrance back towards St Neots Road.

  14. Second witness called to give evidencepublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Jodie with her dogImage source, Family handout

    Eddie Coyle has finished giving his evidence and has left the courtroom.

    Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC has now called the second witness.

    The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has told jurors that after leaving college on 1 March Jodie went home to walk her dog.

    Mr Aylett mentions some CCTV footage of the group of friends walking towards the park in the Harold Hill area of Romford in east London.

  15. Prosecution confirms witness's descriptions of menpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC is now going over the apparent inconsistencies in Eddie Coyle's description of the two men in the park as raised by members of the defence teams.

    He is tryng to ascertain who was wearing the white puffer jacket and what the shorter man was wearing.

    It appears both men were wearing dark coloured jackets but one had a white coloured hoodie underneath.

    Asked how confident he was to what people were wearing, Mr Coyle said he was but "wasn't really paying attention".

    However, he said he was "very confident" about the heights of the two men.

    That completes the evidence of Mr Coyle who has been told he is free to go.

  16. Eddie Coyle 'certain' of the man who stabbed Jodiepublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    crime sceneImage source, PA Media

    Natasha Wong QC - who is representing one of the teenage boys - is now questionning Eddie Coyle about the two men in the park.

    She asks the 18-year-old again about the statement he gave to police on the night of Jodie's killing.

    "Which one stabbed Jodie?" asks Ms Wong. "The taller black man?"

    "Yes," says Mr Coyle who reaffirms he is certain of that.

  17. Boyfriend quizzed over descriptions of men in parkpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Mr Sherrard is again checking Mr Coyle's description of the two men sat on a bench next to the group in the park.

    The witness again confirmed the colour of the jacket that the shorter of the two was wearing was white. In his police statemnet he said it was black.

    Mr Sherrard said "Do you think it's possible that seeing the first two people for that length of time has influenced your recollection" of the other two males who entered the park later.

    The witness said: "Yes".

    The taller person was described by Mr Coyle as black.

    Mr Coyle said light from torches on their phones meant he could see the colour of the taller man, who was wearing all black clothing and a face covering from his nose down.

    He confirmed the shorter man was dressed similarly with a face covering but was wearing a white puffer jacket with a fur trim, with a light grey jumper underneath.

  18. Witness cross-examination resumespublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    The court is sitting again following a break for lunch.

    Witness Eddie Coyle, Jodie's boyfriend, will resume giving evidence.

  19. Jodie's family to launch charity 'in her honour'published at 13:50 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    Jodie ChesneyImage source, Family handout

    Since Jodie's death in March, her family have been working to set up a charity in her name.

    The 'Jodie Chesney Foundation, external' will formally launch on Sunday afternoon at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club.

    In honour of Jodie, the family said the charity's core aim was to "develop and provide prevention, intervention, education and support to parents of young people, young people and children and those that may not engage in mainstream support."

    Former England international and Liverpool footballer Paul Konchesky will be taking part in a charity football match which has been organised for Sunday's launch.

    Dagenham and Redbridge stadium
  20. Watch: 'He plunged what he believed was a knife in her back'published at 13:44 British Summer Time 20 September 2019

    BBC reporter Dan Johnson summarises what happened in court this morning as Jodie Chesney's boyfriend told the court of the moment she was stabbed in a park in east London.