Watford gang feud teenage accused denies being at murder scene

A gang feud led to a chase through a town's streets, resulting in a fatal stabbing and the arrest of a 16-year-old boy, a jury has heard.

Aqeel Khan, 18, died from a single stab wound outside a school in Watford, Luton Crown Court has been told.

He was among a group of men chasing a teenager after an argument and row near shops on the Holywell estate.

The teenager, now 17 and not named because of his age, denied murder and said he was not at the stabbing scene.

Prosecutor William Mousley QC said violence erupted on the afternoon of 22 August last year because of "bad feeling" between the teenager and two of the chasing gang, but not Mr Khan.

Outside a parade of shops in Tolpits Lane, the teenager had swung a sports bag at the group and hurled a stone at one of them before running away.

Mr Khan had only just arrived but was the one who got the closest to the fleeing boy.

When the gang caught up with the running teenager at first they thought Mr Khan, leading the chase, had just been punched, the court heard.

But he had been stabbed between his shoulder blades and the knife had damaged his pulmonary artery.

Watford General Hospital staff were unable to restart his heart and he was pronounced dead.

"It was only when he collapsed the full seriousness was appreciated," the prosecutor said.

"He bled to death."

The teenager was arrested later and in a prepared written statement denied doing anything wrong.

He said he had not been present when Mr Khan was killed.

Mr Mousley said he went to the shops "ready and willing to use violence".

The case continues.