Murder accused told friend he stabbed teen, court told

A teenager accused of murdering a 16-year-old boy told his friend that he had "just dipped" him, a court has heard.

Prosecutors at Lewes Crown Court have said that Joshua Ingram was stabbed to death at Seaford railway station in East Sussex last September over an unpaid £20 drug debt.

A 16-year-old boy is on trial charged with murder, which he denies. He has pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter.

He is also accused, along with two other boys – aged 17 and 15 – of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, which the defendants, who cannot be named due to their age, deny.

The 15-year-old also denies a charge of assisting an offender, which the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to.

The court heard that when quizzed by police, the 17-year-old told officers that the murder accused 16-year-old boy had said: "Bro, I just dipped Josh twice. I just saw him at the train station and I just did it."

The 17-year-old added: "I couldn't believe he'd actually killed him."

He denied that he was part of a conspiracy to harm Joshua, telling police: "We are all in a group selling drugs, not killing people."

He told police that he thought Snapchat messages from the murder accused were a joke.

The court heard that they said that "Josh will perish" if he did not pay his £20 debt.

He offered to punch Joshua over the debt, the court was told.

"I wanted to show my loyalty," he told police.

The case continues.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.