A teen accused of stabbing a Richmond College student to death had been in court earlier the same day on charges of possessing a knife, it has emerged.

The victim, Hazrat Wali, aged 18, who was a refugee from Afghanistan, died in hospital following the attack on the Craneford Way Playing Fields, Twickenham, in October last year.

A 17-year-old boy is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering Mr Wali.

Jurors have been told the boy had been in Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on the same day of the killing after being caught with a knife at the Southside shopping centre in Wandsworth in August.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order.

Giving evidence with the assistance of an intermediary, the youth said he accepts stabbing Mr Wali later that day but denies intending to kill him or cause him serious harm.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told that the victim had been defending the honour of a female friend when he came into conflict with his attacker.

The court has also been told that boys from a rugby match between Richmond School and Hampton School witnessed some of the attack.

Asked why he took out the knife, the accused said he and Mr Wali were 'pushing each other' and he wanted to be left alone.

He claimed to have become scared when Mr Wali called someone for back up, telling someone on the phone to 'come quick'.

The defendant, who was 16 at the time, added: 'I thought he had something on him, a knife.'

Garry Green KC, defending, said: "The jury know that you have carried a knife in the past. Do you accept that is true?"

The defendant agreed and said it was 'for my own protection'.

He told jurors he had been attacked in the past and the court was show a photograph of his hand following an assault in 2020.

The defendant said a friend had been stabbed to death and that he had been warned by his mother to watch his back.

In November 2020, he said he had been put under pressure by some older boys to go to Wiltshire to sell drugs at a house.

After agreeing to go, he was missing from home for a few days before calling his mother, who went to fetch him.

He told jurors the older boys were 'unhappy' and threatened him. Subsequently, he said he felt unsafe 'some of the time' on the streets.

Mr Green asked "Is that why you had a knife on you on October 12?" to which the youth replied 'Yes'.

The defendant, who cannot be identified because of his age, denies murder. The trial continues.