A 16-year-old boy wept in court as he was told he could face a life sentence if convicted of murdering Harry Pitman on New Year’s Eve in north London.
The boy, who is from north London and cannot be named because of his age, is charged with using a hunting knife to kill Harry, also 16, as a crowd gathered to watch a fireworks display on Primrose Hill. He was also charged with carrying an offensive weapon in a public place.
Members of Harry’s family watched from the public gallery at the Old Bailey as Judge Sarah Whitehouse addressed the accused, who was flanked in the dock by security officers and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. At the close of proceedings he was remanded in youth custody.
A plea date has been set for 26 March. If the accused pleads not guilty, a trial of up to four weeks is scheduled to begin on 2 September.
Harry was stabbed at about 11.40pm on 31 December and the incident was allegedly recorded on mobile telephones by others in the crowd. A group of police officers who were nearby attempted to save Harry’s life but he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midnight.
Harry’s sister Tayla told the Times last week that he died as a “hero”. A minute’s applause was held during Friday’s FA Cup game between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley in tribute to Harry, who supported the north London club.
On Monday, Idris Elba, the Londoner and Hollywood actor, launched a campaign to tackle knife crime, calling for the immediate banning of machetes and “zombie” knives and more funding for youth services, saying the time for excuses and delays is over.
“We need to give young people more of a reason not to carry a weapon in the first place,” Elba said. “That means investing in the services that address the root causes of violent crime.”
