Schoolboy 'murdered for £10 debt'

Two teenagers murdered a schoolboy over £10 they said he owed them for cannabis, the Old Bailey has heard.

Abdul Maye, 15, was attacked by two boys aged 16 and 14 who both had knives.

The youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny murdering Abdul in east London.

Abdul was attacked and stabbed in the back as he stood outside his school with friends on 7 December 2001.

They were both armed with knives which they were both prepared to use

Susan Edwards QC

Susan Edwards QC, prosecuting, said students saw the older boy lunge the knife at Abdul, who appeared to parry the blow with his hand.

But the younger boy was standing behind Abdul and plunged the knife into his back - piercing his heart.

As Abdul collapsed into the road, his friends chased the teenagers, who had been harassing him for a £10 debt, Miss Edwards told the jury.

Miss Edwards said the non-payment of the £10 debt for some cannabis had resulted in "a considerable loss of face".

'Public revenge'

On a previous occasion, CS gas was sprayed in Abdul's face and he was challenged to a fight, she said.

On the day of the attack, Abdul and his friends left the school after a mock GCSE technology exam.

The two youths were waiting on a corner but left after a confrontation in which they were outnumbered.

But they decided to return to "eke out a very public revenge", Miss Edwards said.

'Face down'

"They were both armed with knives which they were both prepared to use - they headed straight for Abdul."

Miss Edwards told the court that after the attack, the younger boy said: "It's done, it's done" as he pulled the knife out.

"Abdul remained still for a few seconds before collapsing face down into the road," said Miss Edwards.

The trial continues.