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| Gang confrontation led to murder on eve of Olympics, court told | Gang confrontation led to murder on eve of Olympics, court told |
| (1 day later) | |
| A confrontation in the crowded Westfield shopping centre just before the Olympics led to murder and a pitched battle between two gangs, a court has heard. | A confrontation in the crowded Westfield shopping centre just before the Olympics led to murder and a pitched battle between two gangs, a court has heard. |
| Liam Woodards, 24, was stabbed in the chest after glasses and a yoghurt pot were thrown at rivals. | Liam Woodards, 24, was stabbed in the chest after glasses and a yoghurt pot were thrown at rivals. |
| As he lay dying, youths began fighting, throwing metal chairs and brandishing two knives, the Old Bailey was told onThursday. | As he lay dying, youths began fighting, throwing metal chairs and brandishing two knives, the Old Bailey was told onThursday. |
| "It was a joint pitched battle," said Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting. | "It was a joint pitched battle," said Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting. |
| Nii-Azu Kojo Smith, 18, of Hackney Wick, east London, denies murder at the site next to the Olympic Park in Stratford, also in east London, on 29 June. | Nii-Azu Kojo Smith, 18, of Hackney Wick, east London, denies murder at the site next to the Olympic Park in Stratford, also in east London, on 29 June. |
| Seven others aged between 18 and 25 deny violent disorder, while a further five people have pleaded guilty to various offences, the jury was told. | Seven others aged between 18 and 25 deny violent disorder, while a further five people have pleaded guilty to various offences, the jury was told. |
| Jafferjee said it was not known if there had been a history between the two groups or whether the confrontation was "gratuitous and opportunistic violence". | |
| But there had been "an atmosphere of menace" with "verbal posturing" between the two sides during the build up. | But there had been "an atmosphere of menace" with "verbal posturing" between the two sides during the build up. |
| At 4.20pm on 29 June, the groups converged and after a number of verbal exchanges they moved towards some central stalls with Woodards ending up among the rival youths. | At 4.20pm on 29 June, the groups converged and after a number of verbal exchanges they moved towards some central stalls with Woodards ending up among the rival youths. |
| Jafferjee said there was little doubt that Woodards had been "confrontational and mouthy" in the escalating atmosphere. | Jafferjee said there was little doubt that Woodards had been "confrontational and mouthy" in the escalating atmosphere. |
| A glass and a yoghurt pot had been thrown by Woodards' group, then a third item, a glass or yoghurt pot landed on or near Kojo-Smith. | A glass and a yoghurt pot had been thrown by Woodards' group, then a third item, a glass or yoghurt pot landed on or near Kojo-Smith. |
| Jafferjee said: "The deceased did not throw anything. His only crime was to have been mouthy. | Jafferjee said: "The deceased did not throw anything. His only crime was to have been mouthy. |
| "His misfortune was to be closest to Kojo-Smith who was confronting the other man just before the item landed." | "His misfortune was to be closest to Kojo-Smith who was confronting the other man just before the item landed." |
| Kojo-Smith allegedly produced a knife as Woodards moved away. | Kojo-Smith allegedly produced a knife as Woodards moved away. |
| "In an utterly disproportionate and lethal reaction, Kojo-Smith lunged forward and stabbed the retreating Liam Woodards in the chest. | "In an utterly disproportionate and lethal reaction, Kojo-Smith lunged forward and stabbed the retreating Liam Woodards in the chest. |
| "This was as needless as it was cowardly. Mr Woodards was an easy and mouthy target." | "This was as needless as it was cowardly. Mr Woodards was an easy and mouthy target." |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| • This article was amended on 26 April 2013. The original misquoted prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee's reference to "gratuitous and opportunistic violence" as "gratuitous and optimistic violence". | |
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