A TEENAGER was killed in a row over a £15 debt, a court heard.

Michael Wright, 17, of Lake Road, Leyton, was stabbed near Maryland railway station, in Leytonstone Road, with a kitchen knife that was plunged 12.5cm into his stomach.

At the Old Bailey today, a 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, denied murder.

He claims that he used the knife in self-defence because Mr Wright was threatening him over an outstanding debt and lunged forward, falling onto the knife.

Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, prosecuting, told the court that the two were “not the closest of friends” but used to be neighbours in Leyton and had a mutual friend.

On a night out six days before the attack, Mr Wright had lent the defendant £20 to get into a Stratford nightclub.

When Mr Wright did not get all of the money back he visited the defendant at his home in Forest Lane, Leyton.

Ms Bennett-Jenkins said: “Mr Wright appears to have wanted his money back and tried to speak to the defendant about it.

“They met in Forest Lane and there was a brief exchange before the defendant produced a large knife and inflicted a wound in his stomach.

“There is no dispute that the defendant inflicted the fatal blow on the deceased but we anticipate that the defendant will say it was in self-defence. Or was it murder? These are the issues we will consider."

The court was told that £5 of the £20 debt had been paid, but Mr Wright went to the defendant’s house accompanied by two friends to retrieve the rest.

Mr Wright became angry when he saw someone was in the house who would not answering the door and started to kick it.

They spoke on the phone and agreed to meet at about 10.25pm.

The defendant went armed with a 20cm knife from the kitchen draw.

Ms Bennett-Jenkins said: “The two men, or boys is perhaps more accurate, met in the general area outside Maryland Park. The defendant was angry about Mr Wright coming to his house and was verbally aggressive saying, ‘Who do you think you are coming to my house like that’.

“Mr Wright was unarmed and looked for something to arm himself with because he had seen the knife the defendant had produced. He said “Don’t shank (stab) me”. Mr Wright was backing away from him when the defendant stabbed him.”

A resident living nearby said he was on the balcony over-looking the row and went inside to telephone the police when he saw the defendant produce a knife. He said in a police statement that when he returned a few minutes later he couldn’t see Mr Wright at all and saw the defendant walking towards Forest Lane “slowly and casually”.

Mr Wright staggered towards Maryland railway station and collapsed near the zebra crossing.

The emergency services tried to save him but the knife had severed the main artery and he was pronounced dead in hospital at 11.52pm.

The weapon, which has never been found, is believed to be 4.5cm wide and 20cm long.

The defendant was arrested the following day following information from Mr Wright’s friends, who had ran off before the stabbing.

At the defendant's home, detectives found the grey hoodie witnesses say he was wearing on the night of the murder, which had traces of Mr Knight’s blood.

In a police interview the defendant said that Mr Wright had visited him and tried to kick the door down saying, “If you are in the house I am going to kill you’.

He said he picked up the knife in response to this and hid it in his trousers.

Ms Bennett-Jenkins said: “He claimed Mr Wright approached him and said, “Where’s my money” and started threatening him and that he had a small glass bottle in his hand which he used to threaten the defendant.

“But the defendant pulled out the knife and he said Mr Wright lunged forward into the knife. He claims that after being stabbed Mr Wright was still angry and said he would come back with a gun.”

She added: “His actions are that of an aggressor. He was armed when he stabbed Mr Wright. It was a deliberate stabbing action that caused it to travel 12.5cm into Mr Wright’s stomach.”

The trial continues.