Alfie Lewis, 15, stabbed to death 'in full view' of children, court told

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed through the heart by another teenager "in full view" of a group of school children in Leeds, a trial jury has heard.

Alfie Lewis was attacked on Church Road in Horsforth last November and died later in hospital, the court was told.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Alfie had been about to meet some friends when another boy attacked him with a knife which was 13cm long.

The boy, now 15, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder.

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had walked "purposefully" towards Alfie before stabbing him.

He said witnesses recalled Alfie looking "surprised and shocked" and asking the defendant "what are you doing?" as the incident unfolded on 7 November 2023.

Mr Hassall told the jury: "Alfie did not get as far as meeting any of his friends that day.

"He was approached by the defendant and stabbed twice - once in the chest and once in the leg."

Mr Hassall added that Alfie collapsed "in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and the people who were waiting to collect them".

A post-mortem examination revealed Alfie died from a 14cm-deep wound to his chest that had punctured his heart, the court heard.

The jury was also told that the defendant fled the scene and dropped the weapon in a nearby road.

Mr Hassell said the defendant had "clearly engaged in some planning" and had taken a knife from a kitchen drawer at home before painting its handle black.

"None of the witnesses heard Alfie shouting at or threatening the defendant," he said.

"All the witnesses are consistent in that none of them suggest Alfie was in any way the aggressor.

"Several of the witnesses describe deliberate blows by the defendant to Alfie."

A police statement given by a witness, who cannot be named due to her age, was also played to the court.

The witness described hearing Alfie had been stabbed and how she had said to him: "Alfie don't die on me, wake up."

The witness was also asked about an incident involving the defendant and the victim on Halloween, which was a week before Alfie was killed.

She said Alfie had talked about how the defendant had thrown a firework at him that night so he had taken the boy's fireworks from him in response.

She was also asked about a fight involving the defendant and another boy in July, in which Alfie had become involved.

The witness said in her statement that she had been struck by the defendant and that Alfie had then hit him.

The defendant denies one count of murder.

The trial continues.

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