Man killed in 'graffiti rage' attack

A vandal stabbed a student to death after he crossed out his graffiti, a jury heard on Friday.

Devon Allen, 18, of Swiss Cottage, north London, was knifed twice through the heart by his 15-year-old rival, a court heard.

The boy, who is now aged 16 but cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murder but was convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Judge Ann Goddard, QC, remanded him in custody until 2 March while pre-sentence probation reports are prepared.

The stabbing was witnessed by a number of teenagers and this tragedy will touch the lives of many people in the area to come

Detective Inspector Martin Ford

The boy, armed with a vegetable knife, met Mr Allen outside a parade of shops in Swiss Cottage, Jonathan Laidlaw, prosecuting, told the jury of nine men and three women

Mr Allen tried to persuade him to fight without weapons.

But when the boy tried to set his Staffordshire bull terrier on him, Mr Allen hit him on the head with a car crook-lock, the court heard.

The boy told the court that he was knocked to the ground and, when he got up, Mr Allen came at him again.

'Beaten to death'

He said he stabbed Mr Allen in self-defence because he was afraid he would be beaten to death.

But Mr Laidlaw told the jury that the boy was heard to say: "Don't ever line me again," before leaving the scene.

He was referring to the practice of spraying over a rival's graffiti.

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector Martin Ford, of the Serious Crime Group, said: "The stabbing was witnessed by a number of teenagers and this tragedy will touch the lives of many people in the area to come."