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Jodie Chesney: Teenager 'murdered in drug turf war' Jodie Chesney: Teenager 'murdered in drug turf war'
(about 1 hour later)
A 17-year-old girl was killed in a "terrible and cowardly" stabbing during a drug turf war, a court has heard.A 17-year-old girl was killed in a "terrible and cowardly" stabbing during a drug turf war, a court has heard.
Jodie Chesney was stabbed in the back while playing music and smoking cannabis with friends in a park in Harold Hill, east London, on 1 March.Jodie Chesney was stabbed in the back while playing music and smoking cannabis with friends in a park in Harold Hill, east London, on 1 March.
She may not have been the intended target of the attack, the prosecution told the Old Bailey jury.She may not have been the intended target of the attack, the prosecution told the Old Bailey jury.
Manuel Petrovic, 20, Svenson Ong-a-kwie, 19, both from Romford, and two boys, aged 16 and 17, deny murder.Manuel Petrovic, 20, Svenson Ong-a-kwie, 19, both from Romford, and two boys, aged 16 and 17, deny murder.
The jury was told two people came out of the dark in the park and the taller of them swung his right arm at Jodie's back.The jury was told two people came out of the dark in the park and the taller of them swung his right arm at Jodie's back.
She suffered a deep wound to her back and was left bleeding heavily. She suffered a deep wound to her back and was left bleeding heavily as her attackers disappeared seconds later.
The attackers disappeared seconds later. Jodie's boyfriend Eddie Coyle, 18, caught her as she fell and eased her to the ground, crying and screaming at Jodie to stay awake while holding her hand.
A local resident heard Jodie's screams and came to help as her friends became hysterical, jurors heard. But by the time an ambulance arrived, Jodie showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead en-route to hospital.
By the time an ambulance arrived, Jodie showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead en-route to hospital.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC told jurors none of Jodie's friends had any idea who was responsible for the "terrible and cowardly" attack.Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC told jurors none of Jodie's friends had any idea who was responsible for the "terrible and cowardly" attack.
Jurors were told the four defendants were involved in the supply of drugs and one or more of Jodie's friends had bought cannabis from those accused in the past.Jurors were told the four defendants were involved in the supply of drugs and one or more of Jodie's friends had bought cannabis from those accused in the past.
"There is, however, nothing to suggest that Jodie was involved in the supply of drugs or that she might have upset anyone," Mr Aylett said."There is, however, nothing to suggest that Jodie was involved in the supply of drugs or that she might have upset anyone," Mr Aylett said.
"Indeed, the evidence of her character, accomplishments and popularity are entirely to the contrary. The prosecution suggested "Jodie is unlikely to have been the intended target; more likely is that the intended target was somebody else altogether."
"So, the prosecution suggest that Jodie is unlikely to have been the intended target; more likely is that the intended target was somebody else altogether."
Following national publicity, police got a breakthrough when a witness reported two males getting into a stationary black Vauxhall Corsa.Following national publicity, police got a breakthrough when a witness reported two males getting into a stationary black Vauxhall Corsa.
Mr Aylett said Jodie's murder might have gone unsolved if not for the chance sighting.Mr Aylett said Jodie's murder might have gone unsolved if not for the chance sighting.
'Entirely blameless''Entirely blameless'
A couple of hours after the killing, a black Corsa registered to Mr Petrovic was found abandoned about two miles away, he said.A couple of hours after the killing, a black Corsa registered to Mr Petrovic was found abandoned about two miles away, he said.
Following his arrest, Mr Petrovic, of Highfield Road, Romford, east London, admitted driving to Harold Hill with a friend and two others who had gone into the park to collect money and drugs.Following his arrest, Mr Petrovic, of Highfield Road, Romford, east London, admitted driving to Harold Hill with a friend and two others who had gone into the park to collect money and drugs.
He denied knowing the pair were armed beforehand, the court heard.He denied knowing the pair were armed beforehand, the court heard.
Mr Aylett said: "If the prosecution are right in saying that Jodie Chesney was an entirely blameless individual who got caught up in some quarrel between drug dealers then her murder was the terrible but predictable consequence of an all-too casual approach to the carrying and using of knives."Mr Aylett said: "If the prosecution are right in saying that Jodie Chesney was an entirely blameless individual who got caught up in some quarrel between drug dealers then her murder was the terrible but predictable consequence of an all-too casual approach to the carrying and using of knives."
The trial continues.The trial continues.