A TEENAGE boy told friends rap music "makes me want to stab somebody" shortly before knifing an acquaintance to death, a court heard.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, fatally stabbed Fico Dougan with a kitchen knife after smoking cannabis at a house in Ockley Road, Broad Green, on September 25 last year, his trial at the Old Bailey heard today (Tuesday).
He then ran out of the house before burning clothes and shoes at his home in Mitcham, prosecutor Martin Hicks QC told the court.
The teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dougan, 17, who died from a stab wound to the heart. The defence will argue diminished responsibility on grounds the defendant was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, Mr Hicks told the court.
Jurors heard that the defendant had gone to visit a relative in Ockley Road on the afternoon of the alleged murder.
Mr Hicks said the defendant had earlier smoked cannabis.
Mr Hicks continued: "At some point when he was there (the defendant) was observed listening to music on his headphones and he was heard to say words to the effect of; 'when I listen to rap music I want to stab somebody.'
"It was a weird thing to say at the time according to others and they thought little more of it."
Fico arrived "some time later" to see his friend at the house. They were sitting on the sofa when "at some point the defendant left the room," Mr Hicks told jurors.
He continued: "He went there and according to (witness) he had what she described as a vague sort of stare on his face.
"Afterwards (the defendant) burst back into the living room from the kitchen area. And this time he was holding a large knife, a kitchen knife, and without warning seemingly and for no good reason, proceeded to attack Fico, who was seated on the sofa with it, and the crown suggests (defendant) stabbed Fico in the chest."
Jurors heard how a friend intervened to try and stop the attack, "screaming for him to stop" but the defendant was "paying no attention; he was not listening."
The defendant was arrested at his home in Mitcham a short while later, where officers found him burning jeans in the garden, the court heard.
Mr Dougan, a former Archbishop Tenison's student, was pronounced dead at St George's Hospital that afternoon.
The trial continues.
