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Ben Kinsella |
Fitness coach accused of murder alleges co-defendant responsible
ONE of the three accused at the Old Bailey of murdering schoolboy Ben Kinsella yesterday (Thursday) claimed a co-defendant was responsible.
Six foot six Jade “J Man” Braithwaite, 20, who was hoping to join a professional club as a goalkeeper, said he did not say anything earlier about the killing because he did not want to be branded a “snitch”.
Braithwaite, from Camden Town, said he feared reprisals.
He alleged he saw Michael “Tigger” Alleyne fatally stab Ben, brother of EastEnders actress, Brooke Kinsella, in June last year.
The 16-year-old suffered 11 knife wounds within seconds as he was trapped by a gang in North Road, Holloway, not far from his family home.
The victim’s family were in court to hear evidence.
The jury heard that “totally innocent” Ben was escaping from a bar brawl when he was trapped by a gang and knifed eleven times.
Braithwaite, a fitness coach, agreed that he grabbed Ben and threw him to the ground “in anger”. But he denied he was carrying a knife or inflicted any serious injury.
He together with Alleyne, 18, and Juress Kikka, 19, both from Holloway, deny murder.
When the trial resumes on Wednesday Braithwaite will be cross-examined by defence QC Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, for Alleyne.
Orlando Pownall, QC, for Braithwaite asked him “were you involved in any way in the death of Ben Kinsella”.
He replied “I was present”.
Asked why it took him so long to tell police what he claims is “the truth” he said that others at the scene were involved with gangs and had reputations for violence.
“I didn’t want to be known as the boy who could have helped him [Ben] but didn’t because I was too scared.”
Braithwaite claimed that Alleyne was responsible for stabbing Ben to death.
Asked by his QC, Orlando Pownall, why he had not told police or anyone else that Alleyne was the killer, he replied: “I thought I would be arrested.”
He revealed that he had been abused in the Old Bailey cells by a friend of Alleyne and punched in the face.
Braithwaite said he ran off with two others moments after he grabbed Ben. He was embarrassed he had been forced to flee Shillibeers when violence broke out.
The jury was told on Wednesday that six foot five former grammar school pupil Braithwaite worked at the Sobell Centre in Islington on a sports project and hoped to become a goalkeeper for a professional football side.
He said he also coached young footballers at Primrose Hill.
The trial continues. |
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