Tomasz Oleszak case: Teen 'seemed happy after fatal stabbing'

Tomasz Oleszak died in hospital the day after he was injured

A 15-year-old who denies murdering another teenager was in a "happy mood" after stabbing him, a jury heard.

Tomasz Oleszak, 14, from Gateshead, died in October, the day after being stabbed near the Springwell Estate.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has denied murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another boy.

The jury at Newcastle Crown Court heard the defendant had "left home armed with a knife".

He has previously admitted carrying a blade.

Opening the prosecution case, Mark McKone KC said earlier that same night the youth had "come into conflict with some youths over something trivial" in Whitehills Nature Park.

Tomasz's family said he was an amazing son and brilliant footballer

Tomasz then approached and, one of the group of youths later told police, the defendant shouted "I'm going to wet you" before stabbing Tomasz deep in the chest.

Mr McKone said that meant: "I'm going to stab you."

He said it was "the phrase of someone wanting to stab someone and not the words of someone reluctantly acting in self-defence".

The court heard Tomasz, who was left with a single chest wound that was 3.2in (8cm) deep and 1.8in (4.5cm) wide, tried to run away but collapsed.

The defendant also attempted to stab another teenager, cutting his coat "in the heart area", the jury was told.

'Didn't faze him'

Mr McKone said the defendant later told his girlfriend: "If anyone messages you, say nothing, don't say what's apparently happened."

He said one of the defendant's friends later told police: "He was bouncing all over, he seemed happy that he had done it, he looked like himself, it didn't faze him at all."

Tomasz, who was a pupil at Gateshead's Cardinal Hume School, was found injured in the nature park near Aycliffe Crescent on 3 October and died the following day.

In a statement previously released through police, Tomasz's mother Kamila said she, his father Patryk, and Tomasz's six-year-old brother were "devastated beyond words".

She said: "Tomasz was an amazing son, a kind and caring role model to his little brother and a great friend to so many."

The trial is expected to last 10 days.