Pupil 'killed after trivial dispute'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.RACIAL hatred at a comprehensive school ended in the murder of an innocent teenager after a trivial playground dispute, an Old Bailey jury was told yesterday.
The victim, 15-year-old Arif Roberts, was 'the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time', according to Linda Stern, for the prosecution.
Racial friction between black and Vietnamese pupils at the Gladesmore School in Tottenham, north London, exploded into violence during a game of football on 20 September 1990, she told the court.
'There was an argument in the playground. It was a trivial dispute over a ball. A fight broke out between the blacks and the Vietnamese and the Vietnamese got the worst of it. They planned revenge and recruited other Vietnamese youths to come to the school and fight,' Mrs Stern said. The next day, a 16-year-old boy from Woolwich in south-east London arrived outside the school with other Vietnamese youngsters armed with knives. Arif, a black pupil, went out of the school gates on his lunch break and was set upon in Markfield Road.
'The tragedy of this case is that Arif had nothing to do with the argument. He was the wrong person, in the wrong place at the wrong time,' she said.
The Vietnamese boy rammed a knife into Arif's neck, severing his jugular vein. 'He died in a short time.'
The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, was recognised by three girls from the school and was arrested. He denies murder.
The trial was adjourned until today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments