A teen accused of murdering a 17-year-old boy was already on bail after allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old in Chadwell Heath.

Ali Baygören, 17, 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.

Jurors heard that they entered a concrete stairwell at a building near the station where without warning the defendant stabbed the boy with a knife which had a Spiderman design on it. 

He 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 to get help, the court heard. While waiting for an ambulance, the boy said: “I can’t breathe, I’m gonna die.” 

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

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

The defendant was arrested and bailed. 

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. Ali was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Now 16, the defendant is charged with: 

  • Wounding with intent
  • Theft
  • Having an article with a blade (three counts)
  • Murder

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