Jamil Palmer stabbed to death after "long-running feud" with defendant accused of murder

Kishon Zelaya, 18, from Reading, appeared at the Old Bailey alongside four other defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons as they are under the age of 18.

They each deny murdering the 18-year-old on May 6 this year near Crane Park, Whitton.

Prosecutor John McGuinness QC told the court Mr Palmer, who lived in Belgrade Road, had 'history' with one of the accused, aged 17, and had been involved in a fight earlier that day.

Mr McGuinness said a female witness, due to give evidence in the trial, saw the former Richmond College and Kingston College student fighting with the defendant in Browells Lane, Feltham, at about 1.15pm.

Both had appeared at Feltham Youth Court the same day over a fight in Hounslow on February 26, during which Mr Palmer was said to have used his belt to hit the accused.

Mr McGuinness said: "She [the witness] could see on a grassy area a man she later recognised on social media as Jamil Palmer.

Jamil Palmer was stabbed to death in Evans Grove, near Crane Park

"He was facing a person on the ground who the prosecution say was [the defendant].

"She heard him [Mr Palmer] shouting a number of times 'one-on-one, one-on-one'."

Mr McGuinness said it could be inferred the fight was between the defendant and Mr Palmer, who "had the best of it".

He added: "It appeared [the defendant] had come off worse and Jamil Palmer was quite keen and confident in having a one-on-one fight with [the defendant], who was not so confident.

"Therefore when they turned up at Crane Park, [the defendant] brought support with him in the shape of the other four defendants."

He said the 17-year-old was seen meeting up with the other four defendants, now aged 15, 16, 16 and 18 years old, before he met with Mr Palmer in Evans Grove, Hanworth, hours later.

Mr Palmer and another friend visited the nearby Butts Farm Estate and the fight with the defendant was arranged by mobile phone, the court heard.

Mr McGuinness also told the court Mr Palmer ordered a pizza for collection at 2.35pm, which he said suggested he was confident about winning the fight.

The emergency services were called at 3.26pm, the court heard.

He added: "That is a call, the prosecution say, to come and give assistance to Jamil Palmer, who by then had been stabbed."

The prosecution said it could not produce any witnesses of the fatal incident.

The five-man group split, with four going in one direction and Mr Zelaya in the other, it is alleged.

CCTV footage played to the court showed the group of four boarding a 110 bus before getting off at Twickenham station, where they were seen boarding a Hounslow train.

All five of the accused face counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Palmer, as well as murder.

The trial continues.