This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8338089.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Boy killed footballer by mistake | Boy killed footballer by mistake |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 14-year-old boy has admitted killing a promising young footballer by accidentally stabbing him in the neck during a row in east London. | A 14-year-old boy has admitted killing a promising young footballer by accidentally stabbing him in the neck during a row in east London. |
| Jahmal Mason-Blair, 17, from Dalston, east London, was stabbed in a Hackney street in May. He died at the scene. | Jahmal Mason-Blair, 17, from Dalston, east London, was stabbed in a Hackney street in May. He died at the scene. |
| The Old Bailey heard Jahmal had been trying to protect the boy from a youth but the boy accidentally stabbed Jahmal with a knife. | |
| The 14-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted manslaughter. | The 14-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted manslaughter. |
| Jahmal's friends said he dreamed of being a professional footballer and he had trials for Reading, Tottenham Hotspur and Watford. | |
| He played for Borehamwood football club, which played a memorial game for him with Crystal Palace. | He played for Borehamwood football club, which played a memorial game for him with Crystal Palace. |
| Waved knife | Waved knife |
| The court heard that a silver bicycle had previously been taken from the 14-year-old boy. | The court heard that a silver bicycle had previously been taken from the 14-year-old boy. |
| Jahmal and the boy had been summoned to Hackney's Amhurst Road to collect the bike from the youth on 23 May. | Jahmal and the boy had been summoned to Hackney's Amhurst Road to collect the bike from the youth on 23 May. |
| But when they turned up, the boy was hit on the head twice with a wooden plank, it was heard. | But when they turned up, the boy was hit on the head twice with a wooden plank, it was heard. |
| The boy took out a flick knife and began waving it around to frighten the youth but accidentally severed Jahmal's artery. | The boy took out a flick knife and began waving it around to frighten the youth but accidentally severed Jahmal's artery. |
| Jahmal died "almost instantly" despite help from police and an air ambulance, the court was told. | Jahmal died "almost instantly" despite help from police and an air ambulance, the court was told. |
| Prosecuting, Richard Whittam said: "The carrying of knives by young men has been described as endemic. | Prosecuting, Richard Whittam said: "The carrying of knives by young men has been described as endemic. |
| There is not one part of our life that has not been touched by the violent and senseless manner of his death Jahmal's sister Maria Mason | There is not one part of our life that has not been touched by the violent and senseless manner of his death Jahmal's sister Maria Mason |
| "Tragically Jahmal Mason-Blair, the young man who had been trying to stop the fight, was struck with the knife." | "Tragically Jahmal Mason-Blair, the young man who had been trying to stop the fight, was struck with the knife." |
| He added: "It appears he had his back to the boy when he swung with his arm and the knife struck." | He added: "It appears he had his back to the boy when he swung with his arm and the knife struck." |
| Jahmal's sister, secondary school teacher Maria Mason, said in a statement: "Jahmal was a young boy whose life was all about family, friends and football. | Jahmal's sister, secondary school teacher Maria Mason, said in a statement: "Jahmal was a young boy whose life was all about family, friends and football. |
| "Jahmal was a talented football player who was considered to have exceptional skills." | "Jahmal was a talented football player who was considered to have exceptional skills." |
| She added: "There is not one part of our life that has not been touched by the violent and senseless manner of his death." | She added: "There is not one part of our life that has not been touched by the violent and senseless manner of his death." |
| The boy was remanded in custody for reports before sentencing at the end of the month. | The boy was remanded in custody for reports before sentencing at the end of the month. |