A jury trying a 21-year-old man accused of a murdering a teenager by knifing him in the chest in Sydenham High Street has retired to consider its verdict at the Old Bailey.
Marley Lucas, of Champion Road, Sydenham, has admitting stabbing Nathan Murray, 18, at lunchtime on June 1, this year, but denies murder.
After a 25-second argument with Mr Murray, Lucas used a broad-bladed knife to stab him in the chest - leaving him with a 17cm deep wound - before driving away in a black Fiat Punto at speed, the court was told.
Today, the jury of eight women and four men were sent out to consider its verdict by Judge Stephen Kramer QC after hearing nine days of evidence.
And on six or seven occasions he had bought his drugs from Mr Murray’s friend Enver Mehmet, who Lucas had several "incidents" with in the months before June 1, including allegedly being kidnapped and threatened with a knife.
Mr Murray, who was known as 'erbs', had been convicted of multiple robberies, many of which involved stealing mobile phones from children, as well as drug offences, the court heard.
At the time of his death he was on police bail for an allegation of robbery and possession with intent to supply drugs, which required him to sign on at Lewisham police station every Monday and Friday.
He said: "Young men, all over this city, can fall out and get annoyed but this defendant had many better choices than the one he made, which was to stab Nathan Murray to death."
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