How Carl Hopkins murder trial unfolded

A BBC documentary called Murder 24/7 has been showing the work Essex Police did during the case.

Here is how the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court unfolded.

Scene - Graffiti Alley

What did the prosecution say happened?

Prosecutor Tracy Ayling QC, said the boy - who was working as a drug runner for the DnT line - stabbed the two men in an alleyway as they tried to rob him.

It was alleged that Mr Birch and Mr Hopkins had been among a gang of six people who had planned the hit having been angered drugs had been sold to teens.

Ms Ayling said they had planned to meet him in a walkway off Maidenburgh Street, nicknamed Graffiti Alley.

She said it was there Mr Birch got the boy in a headlock and he was stabbed as the pair fell to the floor.

"How Carl Hopkins was stabbed is not entirely clear," she said.

“The defendant says the man with the balaclava (Mr Hopkins) came at him and they came together while the defendant was waving the knife.”

Blood from the defendant and two victims was found.

Mr Hopkins was found dead in nearby Ryegate Road, while Mr Birch sought help at a snooker club in George Street.

Which witnesses were called?

Other rough sleepers who were with Mr Hopkins and Mr Birch gave evidence at court.

John McGuire said he and some others had walked with then to the alley where Mr Birch picked up a weapon.

Mr McGuire said he had offered to pay for the drugs to stop the fight but did not see the fatal blow.

Attacked -Jon Birch

Mr Birch himself said he had no idea how Mr Hopkins was stabbed.

He denied being armed himself and that he had played no part in setting up the robbery.

He told the court he was "out of his head" at the time after boozing heavily but that drug runners took risks when they sold to children.

He said: “If you want to sell drugs to children that is the life you have got to live by.

“There are 14 and 15-year-old girls running around picking up crack and heroin.”

He also said he cared little about the outcome of the trial.

He said: “I want the little fella to get off – I don’t care.”

What did the defendant say?

The defendant said he was confronted when he went to the alley, wrestled to the floor and chocked to the point he nearly passed out.

He told officers, and the court, he swung a knife he had in his trousers and caught the men.

The boy said he was in fear of his life but did not mean to kill or cause really serious harm.

How did the jury react?

The boy was cleared or murder and wounding with intent after a two-week trial.

Despite the prosecution saying his reaction to being wrestled to the ground was "swift and disproportionate" the jury accepted he was acting in self defence.

Was he punished?

Although he was cleared of the two serious charges, the boy had admitted possession of a knife at an early stage.

It was his second conviction for that offence.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC handed him a conditional discharge, despite the fact a second-like offence would usually mean a four-month custodial sentence for someone of his age.

She cited the exceptional circumstances of the case and noted he had been remanded since he was arrested in February until the end of the trial in July.

"Everything which has happened in this case is the very reason young people should not get mixed up with carrying knives."

He walked free from court on that day.