One of two 12-year-olds accused of machete murder told the jury he saw his co-defendant kill the victim during an attack that lasted up to five minutes.
The young man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was “not even close” when 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai was stabbed by his friend, whose identity is also protected.
The boys allegedly murdered Mr Seesahai, who was stabbed in the heart and suffered a fractured skull.
The alleged joint attack took place in WolverhamptonStowlawn Playing Fields on November 13th of the year.
They both deny murder and blame themselves for stabbing Mr Seesahai.
Giving testimony on Monday at Nottingham At the Crown Court the young man, who is the second of the defendants, denied causing any harm to Mr Seesahai.
He said his friend told Seesahai and a friend of the deceased to “keep stepping” before sheathing a machete behind a bench and adding: “Get ready.”
Claiming he was surprised that his friend had the machete, the second defendant added: “Shawn towered over him.
“He just said, ‘Get off the bench.’
A teenager known to both defendants then picked up the machete, the boy said, and handed it to the other young man.
Responding to questions from Paul Lewis KC, defending, the boy said his friend was assaulted and called for help as he tried to ensure Mr Seesahai could not get the knife.
He told the court: “I pushed Shawn [the first defendant]. He [Shawn] clung to me. We both fell to the floor.
“I fell onto the concrete. Shawn fell onto the grass.”
According to the boy’s account, the first defendant – who admits to owning the machete – then ran after Mr. Seesahai, who tripped when his shoe fell off as he tried to escape.
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Denying that he kicked, punched or stamped on the victim, the second defendant said he saw his friend stab Mr Seesahai more than once.
“I was nowhere near him… I told him to leave it,” he said of the first defendant.
His friend attacked Seesahai for about five minutes and then had blood “on his hands” and on the cuff of his wool coat, the boy said.
The second defendant said he did not know how a “very small” stain of blood had reached his right coach.
Mr Lewis asked the boy: “Did you have the knife in your hand at any point when you were in the park?”
The young man replied: “No”.
Before his arrest the next day, the boy said, his co-defendant told him they should blame the teenager – who would go to the police – for what had happened.
The trial continues.
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