Texts from the phone of a teenager on trial for the murder of a 17-year-old describe him being “held up” on the evening of the killing, a court heart today.
Ephraim Idris, 18, is accused of killing Lord Promise Nkenda who was mowed down by a group of teenagers in a stolen car before being chased and stabbed in Goldwing Close, Canning Town on Valentine’s Day.
Jurors at the Old Bailey were told Idris had a text sent from his phone shortly after 10pm, two hours after Promise’s stabbing, in which it says he was “held up” that evening.
It read: “I got held up baby, I’m sorry. I can’t talk to you right now. I’m going to call you in a bit.”
A further two texts were sent, saying “we need to talk” and “I need to see you tomorrow”.
Idris, along with Shemar Dawes, Anton Muir and Ishaq Abdille, who are all 18, deny one count of murder, as well as a juvenile who can’t be named for legal reasons.
Idris, Muir and the juvenile accept they were at the scene but deny murder, while Abdille and Dawes deny presence and involvement in the attack.
The court head Muir’s, Idris’, Dawes’ and the juvenile’s phones were traced to the area around Westfield Stratford City earlier on the day of Promise’s death.
Shortly before the theft of a black BMW, phones belonging to the juvenile and Idris moved towards Forest Gate, close to where Abdille’s phone was located.
At this time, Muir’s phone remained in Westfield, before joining the others.
Numerous phone calls were transmitted between the defendants on that evening but between 6.53pm and 9.06pm, no communication was made between the devices.
Shortly after 8pm, Muir’s phone is traced going north from Prince Regent Lane to Barking Road, while the juvenile and Abdille’s phones are traced to a cell mast near Tesco in Barking Road, where the juvenile is seen on CCTV getting into a taxi.
Shortly after 10pm, Muir’s Idris’, Dawes’ and Abdille’s phones are traced to Forest Gate, where the texts from Idris’ phone were sent.
Promise, who is said to be from North Woolwich, was stabbed at around 8pm.
He was walking down the road when he was knocked down by the stolen car.
He fled down an alleyway, before four people got out of the vehicle and gave chase.
They caught him in Goldwing Close, stabbing him 15 times before getting back in the car and escaping.
He was repeatedly stabbed in the head, back and chest, but managed to knock on a nearby door for help. He was pronounced dead by paramedics at around 8.40pm.
The trial continues.
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