A Mitcham teenager is on trial after being accused of stabbing to death a 17 year old who was trying to make peace between two opposing sides.

The youths trial entered the second week at the Old Bailey on Monday where he is charged with plunging a lock-knife into the chest of Steven Hill during a fight at Hampton Court station in June.

Steven, of Walton, died in Kingston Hospital after receiving a fatal stab wound in the station car park on June 29.

The jury heard that the 17 year old accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, plunged the blade into Stevens chest and held it there for a few seconds before running away.

Doctors battled to save his life but he died two hours later at 3.30am.

After spending Friday evening with friends at the Streets of London pub in East Molesey, Steven, a trainee landscape gardener, had

been about to go home but changed his mind and stayed with his ex-girlfriend, Charlotte Ross, and two other friends.

A quarrel started in a nearby kebab shop between the girls and two boys in a group from St Helier who were night-fishing. The trouble continued in a petrol station.

One of Stevens friends grabbed a cap from a boys head. Mark Dennis, prosecuting, said Steven tried not to get involved in the situation.

Charlotte was knocked to the ground and shouted to Steven to do something.

Steven took out his aggression by kicking a nearby car before chasing one of the boys into the car park, the court heard.

Mr Dennis said: There was rather futile verbal abuse, pushing and punching but one boy decided to elevate this scuffle to a higher level.

He confronted Steven Hill, took hold of him with one hand and with the other stabbed him full in the chest before turning away and running.

Mr Dennis said Steven died during a comparatively minor altercation.

There can be no justification for having produced and used a lethal weapon during a loss of temper and gratuitous aggression, he said.

Steven managed to stumble onto the station concourse where he collapsed.

Ambulance services arrived minutes later but could not save him.

After his arrest, the accused, who denies murder, told police he acted in self-defence,

stabbing Steven because he was running at him with a

mirror he wrenched from a car.

The trial continues.