A Barnet College student accused of killing his best friend during a row over a video game could face a retrial for murder, after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Yonis Jama, 18, was charged with stabbing Steven Siewlal in the face and back 65 times with two knives and a screwdriver when they were both 16, in September 1999, after an argument over Sony Playstation game Xenogears descended into violence.

Jama claimed Steven was angry with him for losing the game and threatened to take his games console away in payment.

Steven's body was discovered by his mother Chandra, 44, at his home in Willingdon Road, Turnpike Lane, when she returned home.

Jama, of Roslyn Road, Seven Sisters, denied murder but admitted manslaughter by way of provocation or diminished responsibility. Defence experts argued the former Information Technology student suffered from Asperger's Syndrome a form of autism.

After 16 hours of deliberation on Friday last week, the jury at the Inner London Crown Court failed to reach a verdict and were discharged by Judge Jonathan van der Werff.

The prosecution will now decide whether to accept the plea of manslaughter or press ahead for a re-trial.

December 5, 2001 18:47