Teenager 'murdered John Onetufo in ongoing dispute'

A seventeen-year-old boy has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of the "senseless" murder of a young man following a fatal confrontation in south-east London on New Year’s Eve.

John Temitope Onetufo, 23, died after being stabbed in the heart in broad daylight on Grove Street, Deptford. The victim was discovered lying in the middle of the road after emergency services were scrambled to the scene at approximately 12:35hrs on Wednesday, 31 December.

Despite the desperate efforts of paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, Mr Onetufo was pronounced dead at 13:10hrs. A post-mortem examination later revealed he had suffered a catastrophic 18cm-deep wound to his chest which had penetrated his heart.

"Ongoing Dispute"

The teenage defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons and was reportedly living in a care home at the time, appeared before Judge Mark Dennis KC today (Wednesday, 7 January) via video-link from Feltham Young Offender Institution.

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Prosecutor Dickon Reid told the court that the stabbing occurred following an altercation between the pair, which was allegedly rooted in an "ongoing dispute."

The youth was remanded in custody. Judge Dennis set a plea and trial preparation hearing for 26 March, with a provisional trial date scheduled to begin on 14 September.

Wider Investigation

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the investigation remains active. In addition to the seventeen-year-old, a 23-year-old man was arrested on Friday, 2 January, on suspicion of murder; he has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

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