Keon Lincoln died in short and brutal attack, court hears

Keon Lincoln died in hospital after he was shot and stabbed in Birmingham in January

A 15-year-old boy was murdered outside his home in a "short and brutal" attack, a trial has heard.

Keon Lincoln died after he was set upon by a group of youths on Linwood Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, on 21 January.

He was repeatedly stabbed by a group who got out of a stolen car and chased him, before being shot in the stomach as he lay on the ground, Birmingham Crown Court was told.

Five defendants, aged between 14 and 18, deny murder.

It is alleged the gunman was the 14-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Michael Burrows QC told jurors there must have been a motive for the attack but he could not say "precisely what it was".

He said the incident was captured on CCTV and showed five people involved in the attack: "They all wore their hoods up so their faces could not be seen.

"The CCTV shows one of the individuals had a gun and shot at Keon Lincoln twice. One of the shots hit Keon Lincoln in the stomach and caused fatal injuries."

'Tried to get up'

Mr Burrows added: "The prosecution say the gunman was... and is 14 years old. As I understand, he disputes that he was present and was the gunman."

The 14-year-old is alleged to have lied to police by claiming he spent part of the day logged on to online school lessons, but records showed he did not attend any lessons after logging on at 08:30 GMT.

The alleged gunman was arrested a week later and said he knew of Keon but "they had never fallen out".

He also told police that he had gone to a friend's house and watched television until about 23:00 before booking a taxi home, but Mr Burrows told the jury: "He gave the phone number for the phone he said he had used to book the taxi.

"There is no record of that number being used to book a taxi."

Keon Lincoln died in hospital about two hours after the attack

The prosecutor said the CCTV footage showed the other attackers were armed with large knives, with which Keon was stabbed repeatedly.

Keon died in hospital about two hours after suffering eight sharp force injuries and an injury to a major artery.

"As I understand, they each dispute that they were present," Mr Burrows told the court.

The "short and brutal" attack lasted about 30 seconds, Mr Burrows told the court, continuing even after Keon tried to get up and run away.

Mr Burrows told the jury: "He [Keon] was shot at whilst he was on the ground," adding the group continued "hacking at him with large knives".

The court heard a vehicle, which had been stolen and was on false plates, later crashed in Wheeler Street, Birmingham, where forensic evidence including a hunting knife was recovered.

"Plainly, it's obvious this attack was planned," Mr Burrows said.

(L-R) Tahjgeem Breakenridge, Kieron Donaldson and Michael Ugochukwu are on trial alongside two youths who cannot be identified

"In short, the prosecution say, when you consider all the evidence from the CCTV and phone records, it is clear that these defendants are those shown in the CCTV, and that they were all involved in the murder of Keon Lincoln."

Michael Ugochukwu, of Twyning Road, Edgbaston, Tahjgeem Breakenridge, of Oldfield Road, Balsall Heath and Kieron Donaldson, of Aston Lane, Perry Barr, all aged 18, are on trial, alongside two youths aged 14 and 16, who are from Birmingham and Walsall respectively.

Mr Donaldson, the court heard, is not alleged to have been present at the scene of the attack but to have "helped and supplied weapons".

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As well as the murder charge, the 14-year-old defendant denies possessing a handgun with intent to endanger life.

Mr Breakenridge, Mr Ugochukwu and the 16-year-old also deny unlawful possession of a knife.

The trial continues.