Newhaven boy stabbed teenager to death in ‘frenzied’ attack, court hears

A Newhaven boy stabbed a teenager to death ’in a frenzy’, a court heard.
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The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is standing trial accused of killing Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, in Elphick Road, Newhaven, on January 6, this year.

Sarah Jones QC, prosecuting, told Hove Crown Court on Wednesday, September 16, that the young defendant stabbed 18-year-old Ollie in the head and back with a kitchen knife.

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“He lost his temper and did things that can’t be undone,” Miss Jones told the court.

Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex PoliceColin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex Police
Colin Oliver Wells, known as Ollie, died after being stabbed in Newhaven. Picture: Sussex Police

“He stabbed Ollie in the back, Ollie collapsed and then he stabbed him in the head in a frenzy.”

The court heard that an altercation allegedly broke out in Elphick Road late on January 6.

A car which was outside a property left the scene at 11.21pm, before a 999 call was made four minutes later by a woman trying to save Ollie’s life.

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Miss Jones told the court that the defendant and Ollie had been engaging with people who were in the car from an upstairs window before the defendant grabbed a knife from the kitchen and the pair went outside.

Police responding to the stabbing in Newhaven. Photo: Dan JessupPolice responding to the stabbing in Newhaven. Photo: Dan Jessup
Police responding to the stabbing in Newhaven. Photo: Dan Jessup

Both the defendant and Ollie engaged in a conversation on a doorstep before the defendant became ‘agitated and stressed’, said Miss Jones.

“He was heard saying Ollie was bringing trouble to the house. There was a conversation about car keys and the defendant was heard saying ‘good one Ollie’.”

Miss Jones told the court that the defendant started punching Ollie who was crouched by a door. He then grabbed a metal letterbox and started striking him with that, she said.

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She told the court that Ollie did not retaliate to the defendant’s punches and that the defendant grabbed the knife and ‘pursued Ollie in anger’.

A forensic at the scene in Newhaven in JanuaryA forensic at the scene in Newhaven in January
A forensic at the scene in Newhaven in January

“Timings show that the car had gone before violence started. The only person the defendant had to defend against was Ollie,” said Miss Jones.

Miss Jones told the court that the defendant showed no concern for Ollie’s welfare while he was ‘fighting for his life’.

She said he ‘only thought of himself’ and used his phone to call a friend to ‘comfort himself’.

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“He may have been upset that night but it was for himself and he was fearful for the consequences for him – not Ollie – he knew what he had done,” Miss Jones told the court.

Police at the scene. Photo: Dan JessupPolice at the scene. Photo: Dan Jessup
Police at the scene. Photo: Dan Jessup

“He stabbed Ollie twice and there was a severe level force in one of these blows.

“He murdered Ollie Wells but he felt sorry for himself.”

Thomas Nicholson-Pratt, defending, said the defendant acted in self defense as he believed he was under attack.

“It is an absolute tragedy what brings us here,” Mr Nicholson-Pratt told the court.

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“A youngster lost his life and the future for another hangs in the balance through desperate circumstances.

”There is no doubt and defense has never hidden from you that the defendant accepts his actions caused Ollie’s death. He’s never shrunk from it at all.

“The problem when having a knife, unexpected things happen – things go horribly wrong – which may have happened here with unintended consequences.”

He said it had been an ordinary day and evening for the defendant who ‘was in a good mood’ – but the dynamic drastically changed with the arrival of others in a car.

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The defendant was concerned about something, Mr Nicholson-Pratt told the court, and he had been beaten up a couple of weeks ago.

“He was a bit sensitive in that regard,” he said.

“He went outside to see who it was – he thought they were bad people. He felt agitated.”

Mr Nicholson-Pratt told the court that the defendant did not intend to seriously hurt Ollie.

“From his point of view it was an accident, there was no thought process, it happened quickly, he said he wasn’t thinking, he was too angry to process it,” he said.

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“He said he didn’t think about the knife in his hand and acted in self defence and then hit out not thinking about the knife.”

Mr Nicholson-Pratt said the defendant has ADHD and things did not go well for him at school. He said he is not in the highest intellectual bracket for his age and ‘still has a lot of maturing to do’.

He added that he went into a frenzy because he was agitated and frightened.

“None of us know what the demeanor of Ollie was outside, not one of us,” Mr Nicholson-Pratt told the court.

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“The defendant said Ollie was rushing to him and was going to attack him. He perceived he was under attack.

“Looking at it from the view of a young person, he honestly believed, whether he was right or wrong, he needed to defend himself.

“He thought there was trouble afoot so went outside with that knife and did what he did in the heat of the moment without thinking, without intentional consequences to Ollie.

“He has caused his death and he has to live with that for the rest of his life.”

Judge Jeremy Gold QC told the jury that it was a ‘tragic case on any showing’ due to a young man losing his life.

The young defendant denies murder.

The trial continues.