Jack Lowe: Murder-accused 'stabbed teen in self defence'

Jack Norton, also known as Jack Lowe, was stabbed to death

A murder-accused teenager told a court he stabbed another youngster in self-defence before running off "in shock".

Brandon Price, 19, and a 16-year-old youth are charged over the death of Jack Norton, who was also known as Jack Lowe.

Jack, 18, died in the Darlaston area of Walsall on grassland known locally as Cookie Park, on 7 December 2022.

The defendants, both from Walsall, deny murder and possession of a bladed object.

The prosecution argues that while Mr Price, aged 18 at the time, was the one who stabbed Jack, his co-defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, was also responsible after "egging him on".

Mr Price was called to give evidence on Friday and said he fatally wounded Jack following an "argument".

The court previously heard Jack had spent the day shopping in Walsall and Birmingham with two female friends before they encountered the defendants, who had asked if they could "stick around and hang out".

Mr Price said the atmosphere was "okay at first" and he had been catching up with Jack, who he knew from school, after not seeing him for a long time.

'Run him over'

He said his 16-year-old co-defendant - who was 15 at the time - soon began threatening Jack, saying he wanted to run him over, with comments continuing throughout the evening.

"I told him to stop and calm down," Mr Price told jurors.

"I told him to stop saying stuff. I didn't want him to do nothing stupid."

Mr Price told the court he soon learned the youth had a knife.

"I said 'pass it to me'," Mr Price said. "Because he was making threats and saying stupid stuff."

The knife was passed to him, the court heard, and Price put it in his trouser pocket.

Mr Price explained to jurors that he was getting on well with Jack and had arranged for the pair to meet up the following Friday.

'Getting heated'

But he claimed an argument soon broke out between Jack and his co-defendant.

"It was getting heated. I just saw Jack go towards him and try to headbutt [him]," Mr Price said.

Mr Price explained he then pushed Jack before the 18-year-old tried to hit him with a bottle of Sourz.

"I pulled a knife from my jean pocket and swung it," he said.

"[Jack] was trying to attack me. I just showed him I had a knife so he would back away."

Mr Price said he did not feel the knife connecting with Jack after he swung the blade two or three times.

He added he did not know he had hurt the teenager until he saw him holding his chest.

The defendant added that he had not intended to kill Jack or cause him serious harm, insisting he was trying to "keep him away from me".

Phil Bradley KC, defending Mr Price, asked his client why he ran away following the events.

"I was in shock," he responded. "I didn't know what to do. I panicked."

The defendant said he later put the knife down a drain but he denied the prosecution's claim he was cheering, whooping or saying the word "kill".

Michelle Heeley KC, defending the 16-year-old, insisted her client had not made any threats towards Jack.

"I suggest Mr Price that you are trying to [shift] blame here because you agree that you were the one who stabbed Jack," she said.

The trial continues.