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Alan Cartwright murder: teenager goes on trial for 'gratuitous' stabbing Alan Cartwright murder: teenager goes on trial for 'gratuitous' stabbing
(34 minutes later)
A teenager has gone on trial for the “deliberate and gratuitous” stabbing of a 15-year-old boy who was cycling with his friends when he was targeted by robbers.A teenager has gone on trial for the “deliberate and gratuitous” stabbing of a 15-year-old boy who was cycling with his friends when he was targeted by robbers.
CCTV images captured the moment when Alan Cartwright was fatally injured in Caledonian Road, north London, in February.CCTV images captured the moment when Alan Cartwright was fatally injured in Caledonian Road, north London, in February.
The prosecution allege 18-year-old Joshua Williams lashed out with a blade as he and his friends moved in a pincer motion to unseat the riders and make off with their bikes.The prosecution allege 18-year-old Joshua Williams lashed out with a blade as he and his friends moved in a pincer motion to unseat the riders and make off with their bikes.
Despite bleeding from the knife wound, Alan kept riding until he collapsed and died outside a swimming pool, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday.Despite bleeding from the knife wound, Alan kept riding until he collapsed and died outside a swimming pool, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday.
Opening the trial, the prosecutor, Jonathan Rees QC, said: “Alan’s death attracted significant media attention at the time. Opening the trial, Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said: “Alan’s death attracted significant media attention at the time. Not only was it another tragic example of the knife crime that blights our society, but this particular stabbing was captured on a local borough CCTV camera which revealed that at the time he was stabbed, Alan was doing nothing more than innocently riding his bike with his mates.”
“Not only was it another tragic example of the knife crime that blights our society, but this particular stabbing was captured on a local borough CCTV camera which revealed that at the time he was stabbed, Alan was doing nothing more than innocently riding his bike with his mates.” Rees told jurors Alan had been studying at college and was described by friends as a “harmless person who avoided confrontation”. But on the evening of 27 February, he was cycling in Caledonian Road with five friends when three youths intercepted them.
Rees told jurors that Alan was studying at college and was described by friends as a “harmless person who avoided confrontation”. He said the robbery was “brazen and swiftly executed”, as in a matter of seconds they stepped out in front of the cyclists and took two bikes.
But on the evening of 27 February, he was cycling in Caledonian Road with five friends when three youths intercepted them. The prosecutor continued: “The CCTV shows that the third robber stepped out into the road towards Alan and swung his left arm towards the upper left part of Alan’s chest. The events that unfolded clearly establish that when he swung his arm towards Alan, the third robber had a knife in his left hand. This was a deliberate and gratuitous stabbing.
Rees said the robbery was “brazen and swiftly executed”, as in a matter of seconds they stepped out in front of the cyclists and took two bikes.
The prosecutor continued: “The CCTV shows that the third robber stepped out into the road towards Alan and swung his left arm towards the upper left part of Alan’s chest.
“The events that unfolded clearly establish that when he swung his arm towards Alan, the third robber had a knife in his left hand. This was a deliberate and gratuitous stabbing.
“Despite being mortally wounded, Alan did not come off his bike at that point and he managed to cycle on before collapsing a short distance up the road outside the Cally swimming pool.”“Despite being mortally wounded, Alan did not come off his bike at that point and he managed to cycle on before collapsing a short distance up the road outside the Cally swimming pool.”
A staff member at the pool gave first aid before police and paramedics arrived but Alan was declared dead at the scene a short time later.A staff member at the pool gave first aid before police and paramedics arrived but Alan was declared dead at the scene a short time later.
Jurors were told the main issue in the case was the identity of the third robber, who the prosecution say is Williams, although the defendant, who denies murder and conspiracy to rob, says he has an alibi.Jurors were told the main issue in the case was the identity of the third robber, who the prosecution say is Williams, although the defendant, who denies murder and conspiracy to rob, says he has an alibi.
Williams, who lived with his family near Holloway Road, north London, was “crying hysterically” when he was brought to Islington police station on 4 March with his parents. Williams, who lived with his family in north London, was “crying hysterically” when he was brought to Islington police station on 4 March with his parents.
When asked why they were there, his mother told an officer it was about the incident in Caledonian Road, saying: “Yes, he’s involved, he did it.”When asked why they were there, his mother told an officer it was about the incident in Caledonian Road, saying: “Yes, he’s involved, he did it.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.