Youth kicked teen at Bedford bus station, murder trial hears

BBC News

23-07-2025

A teenager who kicked at another youth while he was on the ground has told a murder trial how he did not want to "look like a coward".She'ma Dixon, 18, is one of five teenagers from Bedford who deny murdering 17-year-old Thomas Taylor near the town's bus station on 8 January.Mr Dixon, of Baldur Close in the town, told jurors that he did not "intend to cause any harm", the trial at Luton Crown Court has heard.Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street just before 18:00 GMT in what prosecutors have said was a planned attack following an earlier incident.
Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC previously told the trial that Thomas was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in the pedestrianised street.Alongside Mr Dixon, the following all deny murder:Ahmed Adam, 18, of Mardale CloseBennett Ndenkeh, 19, of Midland RoadRiaz Miah, 18, whose address prosecutors just gave as BedfordA 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified because of his age
'Ran away'
Jurors have seen CCTV footage showing a group of young males running through the bus station ahead of Thomas being attacked on the ground by a number of youths.Mr Dixon, who was 17 at the time, could be seen running towards the group and kicking at Thomas.He, and others, are then seen running away."I threw a half-hearted kick," Mr Dixon told jurors."I didn't want to look like a coward."I kicked at the person on the floor. I ran away. I just wanted to get out of there."
The prosecution barrister has told the trial that footage showed Thomas being stabbed by Mr Ndenkeh - and stamped on by others.Mr Dixon, who said he did not know Thomas, told jurors: "I didn't see any weapons. I didn't intend to cause any harm."He added that he wanted to "see what was happening" and was "following my co-d's [co-defendants]".
Mr Heywood has said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr Miah and the attack on Thomas was "deliberate".
Judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has told jurors they should finish hearing evidence later on Wednesday.
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