Teen Admits Stabbing Boy To Death In Grays

A teenager has admitted stabbing to death a 14-year-old boy in Essex after they apparently met through playing video games online.

Computer engineer Lewis Daynes, 19, pleaded guilty to the murder of Breck Bednar who was found with a fatal neck wound in Grays in February.

After his death, family members said Breck, from Caterham in Surrey, had left home after arranging to meet a friend online.

Daynes had denied murder but dramatically changed his plea on the day he was due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Dressed smartly in a grey suit with a white shirt and tie when he appeared in the dock, Daynes said ``guilty'' as the court clerk read the charge to him.

The victim's father, oil futures trader Barry Bednar, who is originally from Houston, Texas, was in court to hear Daynes's guilty plea.

Barrister Richard Whittam QC said it was the prosecution's case that the murder ``involved a sexual, sadistic motivation.''

Daynes, flanked by two security officers, looked straight ahead and showed no emotion during the hearing.

Mrs Justice Cox adjourned sentencing to January 12.