Teenagers deny schoolboy's murder

Two teenagers killed a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed in the head and neck outside an unmanned police station, a court has been told.

Jack Large was stabbed near a shopping precinct in Chigwell, Essex, on 30 November 2007.

He died in hospital two days later after having a knife surgically removed from his skull.

Two boys, now aged 14 and 15, who cannot be named, deny a charge of murder at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Prosecutors said the 15-year-old defendant, who is African-Caribbean, believed he had been called racist names by Jack Large, who was the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

'Messing around'

The court heard that Jack and the two boys first "came together" earlier that day near to the shopping parade.

Martyn Levett, prosecuting, said: "Jack was messing around with an umbrella he was carrying. A lot of the young people thought it was a joke.

"When Jack poked it at [the 15-year-old defendant], the joking stopped. He didn't take it in the same spirit. They squared up to each other and were in each other's faces."

The pair were split up soon after as a large group of youngsters gathered and then went in separate directions.

Mr Levett said the 14-year-old defendant had added "antagonism" to the situation.

The court heard the pair clashed again at about 2245 GMT after meeting near the shopping parade.

Jurors were told Jack was fatally injured when the 15-year-old defendant plunged the knife into his back and then his skull, behind his left ear.

Jack never regained consciousness and his life support machine was switched off on 2 December.

The 14-year-old defendant is also on trial accused of possession of the knife.

The case continues.