Bedford man says he "didn't intend" to murder teenager

BBC News

13 hours ago

A 19-year-old man accused of killing a teenager "virtually in cold blood" has defended his behaviour.Bennett Ndenkeh, 19, of Midland Road, Bedford, is one of five teenagers who deny murdering 17-year-old Thomas Taylor.Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street, Bedford, just before 18:00 GMT on 8 January, a trial at Luton Crown Court heard.Mr Ndenkeh has told jurors he "didn't intend" to kill Thomas.
Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC has told jurors that Thomas was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in a pedestrian street near a bus station.He has told the trial "sudden" and "ugly" violence involving two groups of "young men" had broken out.Ahmed Adam, 18, Mr Ndenkeh, Riaz Miah, 18, She'ma Dixon, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, have all pleaded not guilty to murder.Jurors have heard two of the accused teenagers give evidence in their defence - a third is due to answer questions from barristers on Tuesday.Trial judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has told jurors that they should finish hearing evidence on Wednesday.
'Cold Blood'
Mr Heywood said CCTV showed Thomas being stabbed and stamped on.He said footage showed Mr Ndenkeh stabbing Thomas.Mr Heywood told Mr Ndenkeh: "You murdered him in virtually cold blood."Mr Ndenkeh replied: "I didn't intend to."He said he been trying to protect a friend.
Mr Heywood has told jurors how Thomas had been walking with two other youths near Bedford bus station.He said the group was approached by members of a larger group.Thomas had been attacked, brought to the ground and fatally stabbed, Mr Heywood said.He said youths involved had "fled" and passers by were "left to deal with the aftermath".Mr Heywood said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr Miah.Evidence suggested that Mr Miah had been assaulted by a youth associated with Thomas and the incident had become an "issue".Mr Heywood said the attack on Thomas was "deliberate".
Mr Heywood has questioned Mr Ndenkeh over several hours at the trial.He suggested that Mr Ndenkeh carried a knife "every time" he went into Bedford - including on a visit to a job centre."When you went to the job centre you sat there with a 10-inch blade," Mr Heywood told Mr Ndenkeh.Mr Heywood suggested, that on the day Thomas died, violence had been "planned"."You took the knife for violence - and you planned it," Mr Heywood suggested to Mr Ndenkeh."And that was to try to right Riaz Miah's humiliation."Mr Ndenkeh twice replied: "No"
Mr Adam has told the trial that he "didn't carry knives".He said he was "keen" to see a fight take place on the day Thomas died - but said he had not "encouraged" it.He added: "I have got no idea why anyone would take a weapon."I didn't have knives - I don't carry knives."He went on: "There was discussion of knives being involved."
Mr Heywood has shown jurors photographs of the teenagers and told them where some of them lived in Bedford.He said Mr Adam lived in Mardale Close, Mr Ndenkeh, in Midland Road, and Mr Dixon, in Baldur Close.Mr Miah - and the 17-year-old boy - also lived in Bedford, he said.
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