UKNIP247 
A jury has been told that 16-year-old Harry Pitman was fatally stabbed during a fight on New Year’s Eve in Primrose Hill, an altercation that began after he accidentally bumped into someone.
The tragic incident unfolded during the celebrations when a 17-year-old, who is now on trial for murder, allegedly stabbed Harry in the neck. The defendant does not deny causing the fatal injury but claims the stabbing was either accidental or an act of lawful self-defence.
Opening the case at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC explained that the two key issues likely to arise during the trial are whether the defendant acted in self-defence or if the stabbing was an accident.
“Last New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023, revelry turned to tragedy in the blink of an eye: Harry Pitman, aged 16, was stabbed once in the neck. He died almost immediately as a result of that single but deadly injury,” Ms Ledward said.
According to the prosecution, the defendant, who was also 16 at the time, had brought the knife to the scene, where a scuffle between Harry and the defendant’s friend escalated into a fatal confrontation.
The court heard that Harry and the defendant’s groups of friends were strangers and that the altercation started around 11:30 p.m. after Harry accidentally bumped into someone from the defendant’s group. Witnesses stated that Harry appeared to be playing a game where he was kicking toward the hand of a girl nearby when he lost his balance and knocked into someone. The person reacted angrily, pushing Harry from behind.
Tensions quickly escalated. Witnesses reported hearing Harry say, “Don’t touch me, because I didn’t touch you.” Shortly after, one of the defendant’s friends slapped Harry on the back of the head, leading to a fight between Harry and the defendant’s friend.
Part of the altercation was captured in a 63-second video recorded by a bystander who was there to watch the fireworks. The footage showed a physical confrontation between Harry and the defendant’s friend, with both throwing punches. At one point, the defendant’s friend fell to the ground, seemingly knocked down by one of Harry’s punches.
During this time, the defendant was seen rushing into the scene, holding his trousers and allegedly brandishing a knife. Witnesses testified that they heard someone shout “Mindi,” the Somali word for knife, just as the defendant reportedly pulled a blade from his waistband.
Ms Ledward described the moment the defendant allegedly swung the knife toward Harry: “The defendant brought his right arm upwards from his side in an arcing motion, and brought it down towards the top of Harry’s shoulder. A light, slim, shiny object held in his right-hand catches the light. The Prosecution suggest that this must have been a knife.”
Harry was stabbed once in the neck, and despite the swift efforts of nearby police officers and paramedics, the wound proved fatal. He was pronounced dead at 11:54 p.m., just minutes before the New Year began.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty to murder and possession of an offensive weapon. The trial, which is expected to examine whether the stabbing was intentional or a result of self-defence, continues.
