A 14-year-old boy from South Norwood was stabbed to death on a bus after another passenger called his killer to alert him, a jury has heard.
Kevin Ssali, of Whitworth Road, died after Roree Cox, 18, of New Cross, allegedly ran onto the bus brandishing a knife on September 15 last year.
The 202 bus had been travelling down Burnt Ash Road in Lee Green when an argument broke out between Kevin and a 15-year-old boy sat next to him.
The court heard a friend of Mr Cox, who had a history of hostility with Kevin and had been travelling on the 261 bus behind, called him to alert him to the dispute.
Prosecutor Sean Larkin told the Old Bailey yesterday Kevin had "made comments to the 15-year-old boy about his woollen hat and large designer watch".
He added: "One witness heard the sound of a punch.
"Another described Kevin grabbing the 15-year-old boy's wrist to look at his watch and the 15-year-old boy saying 'don't touch me'."
"Someone saw this exchange and phoned the defendant.
"The 202 stopped at traffic lights. The defendant got off the bus behind and ran to the 202.
"While he was outside the 202 the defendant took off his training shoe and took out a knife.
"Two of the 15-year-old boy's friends let him on the bus by opening the emergency exit door.
"Holding a knife he ran up the stairs. Meanwhile Kevin had moved away from the 15-year-old boy towards the stairs.
"As [the defendant] ran up, witnesses heard him shout 'Do you want me to stab you?'
"He ran up the stairs and he stabbed Kevin once. He stabbed him over the barrier at the top of the stairs. The defendant then ran downstairs."
Flowers laid at the scene of Kevin Ssali's death in September last year
The court heard Kevin began to chase after Mr Cox but collapsed of the foot of the stairs. He died that day from a stab wound.
Kevin, a pupil of Crown Woods College in Eltham, had been missing from home for two months when he died.
Mr Cox was charged with murder on September 17, two days after Kevin's death.
He denies the charge. The trial continues.
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