Abbey Wood murder trial: Teen says Charlie Bartolo was a 'civilian'

Charlie and Kearne Solanke, both aged 16, died after they were found with stab injuries on November 16 last year. 

The killings are said to have taken place against the backdrop of a postcode rivalry between Thamesmead and Abbey Wood.  

It is alleged that Kearne was part of the gang of five who knocked Charlie off his moped with a 4x4 then stabbed him in the head on Sewell Road in Abbey Wood. 

During the chaos Kearne is said to have been accidentally stabbed by one of his own friends, before being driven back to Thamesmead where he died. 

Kearne (left) and Charlie (right) (Image: PA)

Four teens are accused of both Charlie and Kearne’s murders - Hussain Bah, Alagie Jobe (both aged 19), a 17-year-old (Boy A) and a 16-year-old (Boy B). 

You can read our previous reports from this trial here: 

• Boy ‘accidentally killed by mate as they murdered other boy’ in Abbey Wood bloodbath  
• Horror as Abbey Wood boy, 16, 'stabbed in head by huge knife that penetrated brain'  
• Boy accused of killing two 16-year-olds in Abbey Wood ‘found hiding under bed’ 
• Teen in Abbey Wood murder trial accused of giving false IDs to ‘save real killers’ 

On Tuesday (December 12) Boy B, who is the only defendant who accepts he was present during the fatal incident, continued to give evidence under cross-examination.

Boy A admits being part of T-Block gang (Thamesmead) and said there was a rivalry with Abbey Wood. 

He was asked about a previous occasion when he said: “That youth we got, he was wet.” 

Boy A explained that by “wet” he meant that Charlie was not involved in gangs. 

“I meant he is basically a civilian,” Boy A said. “I was trying to say that it should not have happened.” 

Boy A denies any knowledge of a plan to attack anyone and says he did not “see or hear anything” from inside the car while Charlie was being attacked. 

All four defendants deny both murders and the trial continues.