THREE teenagers have gone on trial accused of murdering schoolboy Yemurai Kanyangarara.

Two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all deny murdering Yemurai on July 1 last year in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling.

Peter Finnigan, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey: "Yemurai Kanyangarara, a schoolboy at nearby St Columba's Roman Catholic School for Boys, was stabbed to death in broad daylight in front of horrified passersby.

"He was only 16-years-old. He was with his friend who was standing feet away."

Jurors heard Yemurai and three friends boarded a number 96 bus at Bexleyheath shopping centre towards Welling.

Unbeknown to them, the defendants were on another bus in front.

Mr Finnigan said: "Once those three defendants realised Yemurai and anybody else in his party weren’t going to get off the bus, they make their way purposefully and at times speedily towards the bus stop where Yemurai is likely to get off.

"They approach Yemurai in such a way, you may think when you consider all the evidence, as to close down the avenues of escape."

Jurors were told a 16-year-old defendant walked over to Yemurai "and almost immediately can be seen to move his arm from high to low in a forceful swinging motion to Yemurai’s head and neck area".

Mr Finnigan added: "Yemurai has no chance. He had been taken by surprise.

"The knife blow, which bystanders describe as a punching action, struck Yemurai on his neck."

Emergency services were called but he was pronounced dead on arrival to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

During the investigation, police officers found a folding knife along the escape route alleged to have been taken by the defendants.

The 15-year-old defendant’s DNA was found on the blade of the knife but this was not the murder weapon - the murder weapon has never been found.

A jury of eight men and four women were shown CCTV footage from moments before the attack.

It showed a 16-year-old defendant and the 15-year-old receive one glove each from a friend.

Mr Finnigan asked the jury: "Just a fashion accessory do you think?"

The court was then shown footage of the attack.

The trial continues.