Haverhill murder: Teens 'argued about girl before fatal stabbing'

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Harley Barfield in a hooded topImage source, Family handout
Image caption,

Harley Barfield, 16, died in hospital two days after being stabbed in a car park

A teenage boy argued with another youngster about his ex-girlfriend before stabbing him, a court heard.

Harley Barfield, 16, was stabbed in the heart in a car park in Haverhill, Suffolk, on 9 January and died two days later in hospital in Cambridge.

He had stab wounds to his chest and cuts to his neck, head and hands.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has denied murder and is on trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

The jury heard from both a friend of Harley, and the defendant, that Harley had been meeting the girl outside school in case the defendant "followed her home".

The witness said the two boys had exchanged messages with Harley telling the defendant to stop contacting the ex-girlfriend.

The defendant had allegedly been calling her from withheld telephone numbers and messaging across multiple apps.

Image caption,

Harley was stabbed close to Strasbourg Square in Haverhill, near the former Vixen pub

In the video interview with police, the friend said that the victim and defendant had previously exchanged angry words in person, including calling each other "pussy".

The witness, who was with Harley on 9 January when he was stabbed, said they had been walking to a shop in Haverhill when they saw the defendant.

Harley had tried to ignore him and continue walking but the defendant followed him, the witness added.

They then tried to punch each other before the witness said he saw Harley "looking scared" and running away.

The jury heard the defendant chased him, with the victim falling down, before getting stabbed in the chest and head.

The witness said Harley was "pale and cold" and a woman tried to administer CPR.

The trial continues.

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