THE TRIAL of a 16-year-old charged with the murder of a fellow teenager in Leamington will take place in June.
It follows the death of 17-year-old Nasir Patrice, from Birmingham, who was stabbed in Tachbrook Road on the morning of Wednesday January 15.
The boy from London, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon, kidnap and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He appeared at Warwick Crown Court this morning. He will appear again on February 24 for a plea and trial preparation hearing, ahead of the trial which is set to start on June 8.
Richard Talawila, 18, from London, has been charged with kidnap and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He did not appear at crown court today but will also appear on February 24 for a pre trial plea hearing.
They have both been remanded in custody.
Police have said Nasir’s death could be related to so-called county lines drug dealing – in which big city drug gangs target smaller towns where gang members are not known to police.
A post mortem confirmed Nasir died as a result of a stab wound to the chest. His family issued a statement saying they were “heartbroken”.
There have been four previous arrests in connection with the investigation – all of who have since been released on police bail while investigations are ongoing.
A 33-year-old man from Leamington, a 17-year-old boy from Coventry, and an 18-year-old man from Birmingham who was injured in the incident, were all arrested on suspicion of murder. An 18-year-old man from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
