ONE of the men charged with murdering 16-year-old Ben Hitchcock told police he was not at the scene, the Old Bailey heard today.

Ben, of Blean Grove, Penge, was stabbed during a “pitched battle” in Southend Road, Beckenham, on June 23, 2007.

He and other members of a Penge gang clashed with youths from Lewisham after trying to gatecrash a party in Copers Cope Road.

On July 14, 2007, police arrested and interviewed Andre Lawrence-Bennett, of Brownhill Road, Catford.

During the interview he gave a prepared statement to officers which was read out at in court today (June 13).

The former Lewisham College student said: “I was not at the incident as alleged against me.”

He went on to say: “Fingerprints and DNA will not be found as I was not present.”

Police interviewed Lawrence-Bennett again in September 2008.

The 18-year-old told officers the first he heard about Ben's death was from the newspapers and TV, and that his mum had asked him about it.

When an officer asked him how his mum would feel if he had been the victim of such an incident, he said: “I’m her only child and it would have a big impact on her.”

Lawrence-Bennett and Mitchell Elliott, aged 19, of Howerd Way, Woolwich, deny murder.

Royston Thomas, aged 19, of Hazel Grove, Sydenham, and Olatunji Olulu, aged 18, of Firhill Road, Catford, also deny murder.

The trial continues.