THE jury in the Ben Hitchcock murder trial has been sent out to consider its verdict.

At the Old Bailey yesterday, lawyer Nigel Lithman summed up the defence case for Andre Lawrence-Bennett, who is accused of stabbing 16-year-old Ben in Beckenham two years ago, warning jurors about the dangers of believing rumours.

Messages were received by many local youths after the stabbing which suggested Andre-Bennett had killed Ben.

Mr Lithman said: “We hear that Michael Jackson's doctor may have injected him with something to help him sleep.

“That's a rumour entirely without foundation. There is no suggestion that the doctor has done anything at all.

“There's been rumour and gossip and it's a very dangerous implement.”

Earlier Mr Lithman told jurors not to trust the evidence given by a key witness in the murder trial.

Paul Wilcox claimed to have seen Lawrence-Bennett stab Ben on June 23, 2007.

But Mr Lithman said: “Wilcox has committed robbery in the past. He got two years in jail for punching and kicking a 45-year-old man and taking his jewellery.

“He also gives evidence that no-one else gives.

“Can it really be suggested to you that this man is someone who can be trusted to tell the truth?

“He is a clever, conniving criminal.”

Wilcox, who is currently in prison for a separate offence, claimed Lawrence-Bennett handed him the knife after stabbing Ben and that the defendant then rode away on his bike.

But Mr Lithman told jurors that 20 witnesses who saw the mass brawl which led to Ben's death did not see a bike.

He said: “The prosecution's case rests upon the bike. There is no forensic evidence linking my client to the incident.

“So what does it tell you that 20 people who should see a bike, and who should see a person ride up and stab someone, did not.”

Ben, of Blean Grove, Penge, was stabbed during a fight after he and friends from the Penge Block gang tried to gatecrash a party attended by rival Lewisham gang members.

The teenager's kidney was punctured when he was stabbed in the back in Southend Road, Beckenham. He died in hospital early the next morning.

Mitchell Elliott, aged 19, of Howerd Way, Woolwich, and 18-year-old Andre Lawrence-Bennett, of Brownhill Road, Catford, both deny murder.

Royston Thomas, aged 19, of Hazel Grove, Sydenham, also denies murder.

He was declared unfit to continue with the trial earlier this week and will stand trial again on November 16.

Olatunji Olulu, aged 18, of Firhill Road, Catford, who was charged with Ben's murder, was acquitted last week due to a lack of evidence.

The trial continues.