Girl admits luring boy to death

Shakilus Townsend was repeatedly stabbed in south London

A teenage girl lured a boy to a block of flats where he was stabbed to death, a court has heard.

Shakilus Townsend, 16, was beaten and killed by members of a gang in Thornton Heath, south London, in July last year, the Old Bailey was told.

The girl told the court she went along with the "honey trap" plot after her boyfriend asked her to set Shakilus up, but she had not wanted him stabbed.

The girl, 16, who cannot be named, and six males deny murder.

The girl claimed she did not realise Shakilus would be seriously hurt, the court was told.

Gang attack

She said she was in love with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Danny McLean, and that he became angry after he found out she was also seeing Shakilus.

The girl, who said she had received death threats after being arrested, told the court that Mr McLean had asked her: "If you still love me, will you set up Shak?"

In court she said: "I understand 'set' to mean have a fight, beating him up."

When asked if she wanted Shakilus stabbed, she replied: "No."

On the day of the murder she told Shakilus that they were going to see a friend and lured him to a cul-de-sac.

But Shakilus was chased by Mr McLean and a gang of youths, the court heard.

Mr McLean, 18, Tyrell Ellis, 19, both from Thornton Heath, and Andre Johnson-Haynes, who is 18 and from Croydon, south London, deny murder.

The girl, who is now 16, and three youths aged 17 have also pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The trial continues.