Hampton Court: A teenager stabbed to death during a fight at Hampton Court station in June was trying to make peace between two sides, a court heard.

Steven Hill, 17, from Hurtmore Road, Walton, died in Kingston Hospital after receiving a fatal stab wound in the station car park on June 29.

A 17-year-old youth from Mitcham, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went on trial at the Old Bailey this week accused of his murder.

The jury heard on Tuesday that the youth plunged a lock-knife into Stevens chest and held the knife for a few seconds before running away. Steven was rushed to Kingston Hospital where 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 from a group from the St Helier estate in Carshalton, who were night-fishing at Cigarette Island.

The trouble continued in a petrol station on Hampton Court Way before both groups ended up at Cigarette Island.

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

He said: At this stage and for a long while Steven was at pains not to become involved and later was heard trying to diffuse 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.

It was an unnecessary act of violence. There can be no justification for having produced and used a lethal weapon during a loss of temper and gratuitous aggression, he said.

Steven, who had been fatally wounded, managed to stumble onto the station concourse where he collapsed. Ambulance services arrived minutes later but he died from a single 8cm stab wound which pierced his heart.

After his arrest, the accused youth, who denies murder, told police he acted in self-defence, stabbing Steven because he was running at him.

The trial continues.

December 14, 2001 12:30