Schoolboy, 16, denies murdering 16-year-old rival with a zombie knife during rush-hour attack at busy London station
- Louis Johnson, 16, died after an incident at East Croydon Station on January 27
- The teenager suffered a fatal wound to his heart from a ‘zombie-type’ knife
- His alleged killer, 16, denies murder and faces a charge of possessing a blade
A schoolboy accused of stabbing to death a 16-year-old rival with a zombie knife at a busy mainline railway station has today denied murder.
Louis Johnson was on his way home to his mother when he was fatally stabbed in the heart during an attack, which took place at East Croydon station shortly before the afternoon rush hour on January 27.
Commuters froze in horror as Louis staggered along a footbridge near the station before collapsing in a pool of blood.
He died at the scene, after suffering a fatal wound to his heart from a ‘zombie-type knife’, a court heard.
Louis Johnson (pictured) was on his way home to his mother when he was fatally stabbed in the heart during a 40 second attack
Police at the scene of the incident, which took place at East Croydon station shortly before the afternoon rush hour on January 27
Commuters froze in horror as Louis staggered along a footbridge near the station before collapsing in a pool of blood
Louis’s alleged killer, also aged 16, appeared at the Old Bailey today, where he denied murder. Pictured: Police at the scene of the incident at East Croydon Station
Today his alleged killer, also aged 16, appeared at the Old Bailey today, via video link from Cookham Wood Young Offender Institute, in Kent, for a plea hearing.
The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, spoke only to confirm his identity and enter a not guilty plea to murder.
He was not asked to enter a plea to a second charge of possessing a bladed article.
The defendant’s barrister Tyrone Smith QC, defending, indicated the boy will admit possession of the knife, but will claim he acted in self-defence.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC confirmed a two-week trial had provisionally been set to start on July 20 at the Old Bailey.