Maliki Sharma, 18, collapsed and died after being stabbed near his left armpit by a group ‘wearing masks and hoods’
A teenager was stabbed to death in the middle of a busy High Street “whilst in the midst of several members of the public” as part of “tit-for-tat” violence between two groups of youths and fuelled on social media, a court has heard.
Maliki Sharma, 18, was allegedly murdered in Feltham by a 16-year-old in revenge for his friend being beaten up and then humiliated online. Two more 16-year-old boys, including the injured party, are accused of helping to plot a revenge attack, while wearing masks and hoods.
Opening their trial on Monday, prosecutor Catherine Farrelly KC said: “This case is about tit-for-tat violence and involves a series of events that took place over the course of three days in January of this year in Feltham in West London.”
The fatal stabbing of Mr Sharma was the culmination of a “feud” between two rival groups, although the origins were unknown, it was alleged.
On Saturday January 10, one of the 16-year-old defendants and his brother were attacked in Feltham High Street by members of the other group, the court was told. The incident was recorded on mobile phones and posted on social media, jurors heard.
Ms Farrelly said: “That, it seems, literally added insult to injury, as not only had (the two brothers) been beaten during this incident, they were also being humiliated about it afterwards by these posts online.” The defendants set out to plot their revenge, Ms Farrelly said.
She added: “The prosecution case is that this revenge was to hunt down and attack those who were involved in the violence towards (the youth) and his brother. The plan was to inflict serious violence upon them, really serious harm, specifically involving the use of a knife or knives.”
On Sunday January 11, the three defendants wore masks and hoods and travelled to the scene of the previous day’s attack to look for those responsible, it was claimed. They resumed the search the following day, again in masks and hoods, one of them allegedly armed with a knife.
When two of them went back intent on “wreaking revenge”, Mr Sharma and another member of the rival group sprung a surprise knife attack on them, jurors heard.
Ms Farrelly said: “The two sides unleashed serious and armed violence upon each other in the middle of the busy High Street whilst in the midst of several members of the public.
“During this attack, (the first defendant) used the knife he was carrying and stabbed Maliki Sharma just near his left armpit.
“That stab wound partially transected an important artery and led to the collapse, and then the death, of Maliki a short time after the incident.”
All three defendants, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, are charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
The first defendant, who admits having a bladed article, is alone charged with Mr Sharma’s murder. He is also charged with violent disorder along with the second defendant.
The three youths have denied the charges against them. The Old Bailey trial continues.
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