A TEENAGER died in agony after being stabbed 12 times by a gang of youths, a court heard.

Distressed relatives of 19-year-old David Wheaton, from Welling, had to leave the court at the Old Bailey as CCTV footage of his dying moments were played to the jury.

Wesley Timon, aged 20, of Heavitree Road, Plumstead; Bradley Hutton, aged 21, of Jefferson Walk, Woolwich Common; James O'Brien, aged 20, of Cade Tyler House, Blackheath Hill, Greenwich, and Ian Cowling, aged 18, of Plumbridge Road, Greenwich, deny murdering Mr Wheaton on the Glyndon estate in Plumstead in the early hours of February 26.

The prosection alleges Mr Wheaton had been chased by the four men, who went looking for him after he chatted up one of their girlfriends at TJ's nightclub in Woolwich New Road, Woolwich.

Timon and Mr Wheaton rowed in the club and were separated by the bouncers but did not fight, the court heard.

Timon was also involved in three other scuffles in the club that night.

Later he went to Hutton's home, where Hutton had taken a cocktail of cocaine, cannabis and pills.

They and O'Brien got into a Renault Laguna driven by Cowley and went to the Glyndon Estate looking for Mr Wheaton, the court heard.

During the car journey Timon rowed again with Mr Wheaton on his mobile phone.

They spotted Mr Wheaton, who ran down a pathway chased by the four men, the court was told.

He ran to a friend's house and banged on the door but could not get in.

He ended up trapped in the front garden.

The court heard Mr Wheaton was then stabbed 12 times, including in the buttocks and shoulder.

One wound had gone through his breastbone with severe force and pierced his heart.

Mr Wheaton managed to get up and was chased again by Timon before collapsing and dying on a grass verge, the court heard.

A green-handled knife containing DNA from Timon and Mr Wheaton was recovered nearby.

Hutton and O'Brien were arrested at Lewisham Hospital after O'Brien injured his neck evading police.

In police interviews they claimed they had been framed for the killing by Timon and Cowley.

Timon claimed he had tried to stop the stabbing and Cowley refused to speak.

Student Elaine Appleby told the jury she went to police after Cowley and O'Brien had boasted about the killing as she bought the Renault Laguna from them.

The trial continues.