Romford: Teen Denies Bus Murder

11 July 2013, 11:31 | Updated: 11 July 2013, 11:33

A teenager from Essex accused of stabbing a youth to death on his 16th birthday has denied murder.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of killing Derek Boateng while he was on a crowded single-decker bus near Highbury New Park in north London.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, the youth, from Romford, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

The knife attack happened on the afternoon of April 23 as Derek was making his way to his home in Hackney, east London, on the packed route 393 bus.

He was taken by air ambulance to an east London hospital but died later the following day on what was his 16th birthday.

Judge Peter Rook QC fixed October 28 as the starting date for the 15-year-old's two-week trial.