Junior Osborne: Teenager admits killing man in street stabbing

Junior Osborne, 50, died shortly after he was stabbed in the neck

A teenager sprinted up to a man in the street and fatally stabbed him in the neck, a court has heard.

Junior Osborne, 50, was "intercepted" and attacked from behind as he cycled along Narborough Road, in Leicester, in September 2023.

A 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has admitted manslaughter at Leicester Crown Court.

But a jury heard that the boy and four other defendants deny the murder of Mr Osborne.

Kate Blumgart KC, prosecuting, told a trial on Thursday that the motive for the killing was "not entirely clear", but the 16-year-old was part of a group of friends caught on CCTV at 21:40 BST on 27 September.

She said Mr Osborne was riding away from a parade of shops when one of the group - a man who has never been identified - stopped him.

Jurors heard the defendants had left the scene, in Narborough Road, before police arrived

"The attack was over in seconds," Ms Blumgart said.

"Mr Osborne was intercepted by the male on the bike who blocked his path with his own bike.

"The male appears to engage Mr Osborne in conversation.

"He [the 16-year-old] sprints along Narborough Road toward Junior Osborne.

"A long-edged weapon is clearly visible on the CCTV."

She said he stabbed Mr Osborne with severe force, then missed with a second blow as he staggered away.

"He has accepted he was the man who stabbed Junior Osborne, but he denies he intended to kill him or cause him serious harm," Ms Blumgart added.

'Stabbing motion'

The group, who wore balaclavas, hoods and gloves and other distinctive clothes, then ran away from the scene before police and paramedics arrived, jurors heard.

The prosecution said they included co-defendants Moises Steiner, of Dovedale Road, Thurmaston, James Williams, of Pelham Way, Leicester, and Thendo Budzwa, of no fixed address, all 18, and another 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They have all denied murdering Mr Osborne, but Ms Blumgart said, although they did not strike the fatal blow, they "encouraged and supported" the killer's actions.

Four of the defendants were arrested at their homes the morning after the attack, and Mr Budzwa was detained three months later.

The court heard they had been in a flat in Leicester shortly before the attack and videos police found on their phones showed them posing with at least one large knife.

One clip showed Mr Steiner making a "stabbing motion" towards another of the defendants, the jury was told.

The prosecution say the weapon used to kill Mr Osborne has never been found and that the accused disposed of it after fleeing the scene.

The trial continues.