Murder-accused teen tried to impress friends - court

A 16-year-old accused of murder was called an "immature young man trying to impress his friends" after social media messages he sent leading up to the killing were read out to a jury.

The teenager has denied murdering Joshua Ingram, who was stabbed at Seaford railway station in East Sussex on 10 September.

He is also accused, along with two youths aged 17 and 15, of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent.

Messages from the murder-accused in the months leading up to the stabbing were called a "mix of fantasy, hyped-up teen exaggeration [and] straight-out lies" by his lawyer Colin Aylott KC.

The prosecution allege the trio "plotted and planned" the attack over an unpaid £20 cannabis debt.

The murder accused said "Josh will perish" if he didn't pay a debt, in a snapchat message read to Hove Crown Court.

"That's a fact and he knows this," the message added.

"I'm ready to sit in a prison cell for 30 years over a £20 sheet [debt]."

The trio are also accused of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent.

The 15-year-old is also on trial charged with assisting an offender, which the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to. None of the defendants can be named.

Addressing the jury, Aylott said the principal issue between the prosecution and defence case is one of intent.

The teen has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the prosecution alleges he intended to cause "really serious harm" and is guilty of murder.

His defence argues the 16-year-old only intended to cause "some harm".

They also dispute that all the messages specifically relate to the victim, who was from Newhaven, in the case.

Defence counsel for the 15-year-old also invited the jury to consider whether the messages were of "bravado" or "definite agreement".

They asked for the messages to be seen in proper context.

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