A TEENAGER accused of murdering Yemurai Kanyangarara claims he was attacked by a gang three days before the killing.

The 16-year-old went to a police station to identify his attackers less than an hour after he allegedly killed Yemurai.

Police were in fact already investigating that incident at the time Yemurai was stabbed to death.

Jurors were told the defendant was seen wearing a medical plaster on his forehead on the day of the killing in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling.

The 16-year-old had arranged to go to Plumstead Police Station to identify his attackers, who he believed were members of the Cherry Boys gang.

Peter Finnigan, prosecuting, said: “It seems to be an appointment he was determined to keep irrespective of events on this day.

“He went straight from Welling High Street to get to Plumstead Police Station and that’s where he appeared.”

He added: “At Plumstead Police Station this young man coolly went through the procedure of identifying those who he said had attacked him on June 28.

“None of those persons were Yemurai or his friends on the bus.

“He was calm. He was amenable. There was nothing in his demeanor that alerted a police officer that he had just been involved in this dreadful incident.

“He said nothing about it, not a word. In fact the police officer, doing his best to assist this man, actually drove him home.”

Jurors were told it was not known why Yemurai was attacked.

Mr Finnigan said: “It’s possible it may be connected with rivalry and ill feeling between two sets of Year 11 pupils at two local schools.”

The 16-year-old defendant, who wore the medical plaster, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but this has not been accepted by the prosecution.

A teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was travelling to Welling on the same 96 bus as the defendants.

She told the court she saw one of the boys take a knife from his pocket and put it into his sock.

When the bus arrived at Bexleyheath she noticed another double decker bus behind.

She said: “The boys were going to get off to get on the one behind but because the bus was getting so packed they said ‘we will catch him at Welling.’”

The witness then told the court that another boy, who had joined the defendants on the bus, said ‘I can’t wait to see this.’

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.

The trial continues.