The boy who is on trial for murdering Ali Baygören was on bail over another stabbing at the time he is accused of killing the 17-year-old.

Ali died after he was stabbed outside his home in Tottenham in June 2022, prompting more than 2,500 people to march through London in a protest against knife crime. 

A 16-year-old, who cannot be named, is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Ali as well as stabbing a 14-year-old boy in August 2021.

The court heard that when the defendant was 14 he lived in a care home where he had an argument with another 14-year-old who he thought had stolen his lighter. 

He called the boy a liar and started poking his leg with a knife, causing him to bleed, Prosecutor James Dawes said. 

The boy later spoke to a member of staff and the defendant believed he was ‘snitching’. 

Two days later, on August 6, 2021, the pair arranged to meet at Chadwell Heath to smoke a joint.

Jurors heard that in a concrete stairwell in a building near the station the defendant stabbed the boy without warning, using a knife which had a Spiderman design on it. 

The boy was stabbed twice in the lower chest, the first scraped him but did not enter his body but the second blow entered his chest. 

Prosecutor Dawes said the defendant then fled, leaving the knife in the boy’s chest. 

The boy managed to stagger outside where people came to his help. While waiting for an ambulance the boy told them: “I can’t breathe, I’m gonna die.” 

The boy identified the defendant as his attacker, telling police “he tried to kill me”.

The 14-year-old survived the stabbing but has suffered health consequences and is significantly traumatised. 

The defendant was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm and theft, before being released on bail.

The following year when the defendant was 15 and still on bail, he is accused of the stabbing Ali twice in the neck outside his home in Orchard Place, Tottenham. Ali was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Now 16, the defendant is charged with: 

  • Wounding with intent
  • Theft 
  • Three counts of having an article with a blade
  • Murder

The trial continues and is expected to last for more than a month.