Man stabbed 10 times on night bus

Billy Ward was stabbed 10 times during the attack

A 21-year-old roofer was stabbed 10 times in a "cowardly attack" following a row on a night bus, the Old Bailey has heard.

Billy Ward, from New Addington, Surrey, died after being stabbed through the heart, lung, and abdomen in December last year, jurors were told.

Witnesses said he was put in a headlock while another man stabbed him.

Starfield Badza and Junior Lumbango, both 19 and from Croydon, south London, deny murder, blaming each other.

Mr Ward and his girlfriend got on the N159 and went to the top deck where Mr Badza and Mr Lumbango were telling people who got on board not to smoke, the court heard.

CCTV pictures showed Mr Badza confronting Mr Ward and holding his collar before going to sit directly opposite him.

'Totally unarmed'

As the two defendants got off the bus at Gravel Hill, Mr Badza made a gun-shape gesture at Mr Ward and tried to slap him, jurors were told, followed by a scuffle in which Mr Ward hit, or tried to hit, Mr Badza.

David Waters QC, prosecuting, said Mr Badza or both defendants asked him to come outside and he responded by jumping over the rail and down the stairs after them.

"He was, when attacked, totally unarmed," he said. "It was a cowardly attack and more so because he was attacked by two men."

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday.