AN 18-year-old man accused of murder has given evidence at the Old Bailey today (May 21) about the death of teenager Shakilus Townsend.

Danny McLean claimed he planned with his girlfriend to ambush Shakilus, of Tanners Hill, Deptford, and fight him “one-on-one”.

McLean and six other teenagers are accused of murdering Shakilus after allegedly luring him to Thornton Heath, beating him with a baseball bat and stabbing him to death.

McLean claimed he just wanted to beat Shakilus up because his girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was two-timing him with the 16-year-old.

However, he says once he heard Shakilus was alone with the girl, he chased after them by himself, leaving the others behind.

But prosecutor Brian Altman pointed out that McLean had “lied” to police for nine hours when he was interviewed about the murder and accused him of telling “nonsense” today.

He asked: “Do you think the jury may swallow the things you're telling them now?”

The defendant replied: “I haven't got anything else to hide.”

McLean admitted that he may have told some friends about him meeting Shakilus and he might need some back-up in case it got “out of hand”.

But Mr Altman asked him: “If this was to be a one-on-one fight why not phone him up and arrange with him for there to be a one-on-one fight?”

McLean replied: “Because people nowadays, they'll come with friends or some with weapons.”

Mr Altman went on: “The trick was to make him think he was coming to Thornton Heath for a legitimate purpose.

“So there would be no reason for him to bring friends along.”

McLean claimed his girlfriend had said Shakilus might come with other people.

McLean, aged 18, Tyrell Vito Ellis, aged 19, and Andre Johnson-Haynes, aged 18, from Croydon, are charged with murder.

Also charged with murder are a 16-year-old girl and three 17-year-old boys who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They all deny the charge.

The trial continues.