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Teenager denies murder in Isle of Man 'pre-arranged' fight trial

A 15-year-old boy has denied murdering 14-year-old Christopher McBurnie, who was stabbed to death in Ramsey last year after a fight was reportedly pre-arranged on social media.

  • Christopher McBurnie, 14, died after being stabbed in Ramsey on 29 May last year.
  • A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named, denies murder, with his defence expected to argue self-defence.
  • The prosecution alleges the attack was "deliberate and frenzied" and intended to kill.

A trial on the Isle of Man has heard that a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death with "severe force" following a fight reportedly pre-arranged on social media. Christopher McBurnie was pronounced dead at the scene in Ramsey on 29 May last year.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, is accused of inflicting the fatal wound and denies murder. David Temkin KC, opening the case for the prosecution, stated that while the defence would argue self-defence, the attack was "deliberate and frenzied" with intent to kill.

The court heard that the two boys, both 14 at the time, had never met but had exchanged insults online, including in a Snapchat group. Mr Temkin said that although both teenagers had made threats, the accused was determined a fight would occur and had given Christopher his home address.

Christopher, who was unarmed, travelled from Castletown to Ramsey with two other boys and arrived at the accused's home around 15:30 BST on the day of the stabbing. The stabbing reportedly happened after Christopher approached the front door.

The court was told Christopher suffered a fatal wound to the right of the chest, which a pathologist said entered his lung and cut major blood vessels, causing "immediate and torrential blood loss". He was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later.

Mr Temkin described the attack as "unlawful, deliberate and frenzied", lasting only a few seconds but "intended to kill" or "at the very least to do really serious harm". The trial continues at Douglas Courthouse.

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