Teen accused of murdering ‘rival drug dealer’ with metre-long sword

A teenager bragged about murdering another boy with a sword at a drug den, a court has heard.

The youth, who was 16 at the time and is now 17, was seen smirking after using the “metre-long” weapon to kill Nasir Patrice in Leamington Spa last January, jurors were told.

Seventeen-year-old Nasir was killed near a flat in Tachbrook Road on the morning of 15 January, where he died despite the efforts of an air ambulance crew.

Opening the case against the defendant, who is from London and cannot be named for legal reasons, Michael Burrows QC said he was alleged to have taken a taxi to a guest house after the killing, where he pulled out a "nasty-looking blade" and claimed to have "dropped" two people.

Nasir, from Birmingham, was stabbed after he and two friends were seen entering the Tachbrook Road flat, Mr Burrows said.

The prosecutor said of the youth accused of murder, who was staying at the home: "He was armed with a large knife, a sword, which he used to kill Nasir Patrice.

"The prosecution say he murdered him and intended to kill. I understand it is his case that he acted in self-defence."

Telling jurors that Nasir suffered four stab wounds, Mr Burrows added: "There is, of course, a background to this case – that background is drugs."

Warwick Crown Court will later be told that the accused and Nasir were "rival dealers", he said.

The court heard that another man staying at the flat with the defendant had been leaving to find cigarette papers for the defendant when three men "rushed" inside.

Mr Burrows said of the witness: "He was confronted by three males who had burst into the flat. He heard shouting and screaming. He heard someone shouting, 'Put it down, put it down'.

"You may conclude that that was one of the three men who had gone past him to get into the flat."

Jurors heard that the witness stopped to catch his breath, and that the same three men emerged from the flat about a minute later.

"They were screaming for help," Mr Burrows said. "[The witness] didn't see any weapons at any stage – either when they went into the flat or when they came out."

Jurors also heard claims that the defendant emerged from the flat "30 seconds or so later" and "looked around and smirked" before leaving.

An air ambulance was called and arrived at 11.10am, but Nasir was declared dead at 11.23am.

Mr Burrows continued: "One of the stab wounds to the chest went through the body.

"The pathologist considers that that would have required what he describes as the upper tier of force."

The defendant, who also denies perverting the course of justice, is alleged to have asked two builders to call him a taxi before leaving the area.

He also denies trying to murder another victim who suffered a collapsed lung and spent five days in hospital.

The trial continues.

Additional reporting by Press Association