Alfie Lewis: Trial starts of boy accused of murdering teen

Alfie Lewis died after he was attacked in Horsforth by another teenager, who went on trial accused of the boy's murder on Monday, prosecutors said.

Craig Hassall KC, prosecuting, said Alfie had been walking down the street to meet friends at the end of the school day when the defendant, who is now 15, attacked Alfie with a 13cm long kitchen knife he had brought from his home.

He said witnesses recalled Alfie looking "surprised and shocked" and saying to the defendant "what are you doing?" as the incident unfolded close to St Margaret's Primary School in Town Street just before 3pm on November 7 last year.

The prosecutor said: "Alfie did not get as far as meeting any of his friends that day.

"He was approached by (the defendant), and stabbed twice - once in the chest and once in the leg.

"He collapsed and died in the road close to the primary school in full view of scores of pupils leaving school and the people who were waiting to collect them." 

Alfie was 15 when he died (Image: Police)

The prosecutor said a post-mortem examination revealed that the fatal stab injury was a 14cm deep wound to Alfie's chest which punctured his heart.

Mr Hassall told the jury at Leeds Crown Court: "(The defendant) then fled the scene, dropping the murder weapon in the road close to the primary school."

The prosecutor said the defendant has already admitted possessing the knife.

He added: "As we understand it, (the defendant) will accept that Alfie was killed by the knife from his kitchen drawer at home, but will say that, at all times, he was acting in self-defence."

Mr Hassall told the jury of seven women and five men: "But all of the witnesses are consistent however in that none of them suggest that Alfie was in any way the aggressor on November 7.

"None of them suggest that it was that Alfie that attacked (the defendant).

"Several of the witnesses speak of Alfie seeming surprised and shocked at what (the defendant) was doing.

"Several of them recall hearing Alfie ask of (the defendant) 'what are you doing?'"

Many tributes were paid to Alfie after he died (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "None of the witnesses heard Alfie shouting at or threatening (the defendant).

"Insofar as any of the witnesses saw Alfie doing anything towards (the defendant), they describe him trying in vain to defend himself from (the defendant's) knife.

"Several of the witnesses describe deliberate blows by (the defendant) to Alfie."

The defendant, who cannot be named, denies one count of murdering Alfie. He sat next to his father in the well of the court for Mr Hassall's opening statement.

Mr Hassall said a friend of the defendant said he walked away from him just before the incident and he then heard Alfie say "chill out", before seeing his friend stab Alfie twice.

He said two other children described the defendant "going purposefully towards Alfie and then attacking him while Alfie tried to defend himself".

The prosecutor said one woman on the afternoon school run "did not see Alfie do anything to (the defendant) to start the fight and said that Alfie had not raised a fist to him".

He said the woman had been walking in the same direction as Alfie "and said that everything seemed quite happy and normal".

Mr Hassall said another woman described a "one-sided fight" where it "didn’t really look like that other guy was fighting back really".

The prosecutor told the jury about two previous incidents involving Alfie and the defendant.

He said one was in July 2023, when Alfie intervened in a fight involving the defendant, and the second happened on Halloween, when Alfie claimed the defendant threw a firework at him.

In recorded video evidence played today, a 15-year-old girl told the jury that the fight in July was between her younger brother and the defendant.

She recalled that, when she was hit in the face by the defendant, Alfie pushed him and said "why are you hitting a girl?"

She said the defendant fell to the floor but Alfie helped him up and they shook hands.

The same girl told the court how Alfie told her how he stole the defendant's fireworks on October 31 after the defendant threw a lit one at him.

Asked about the events of November 7, the girl said someone told her Alfie has been stabbed and she saw him on the floor.

The girl said she ran over to him and said: "Alfie, don't die on me. Please wake up."

The trial continues on Tuesday.

After his death, Alfie's family paid tribute to him.

A family statement issued through West Yorkshire Police said: "I haven't got the words to describe how devastated we all are.

"Alfie you were one in a million, so funny and an all-round entertainer with your rapping and dancing feet.

"You had the biggest heart and took care of everybody around you. You will never know just how much you are loved by family and friends, and you will always be our uncle Alfie.

"We love you so much. Nothing will ever be the same without you. You will shine in the sky, as bright as you did in all our lives. I love you more than words can say, and you will always be with us forever.

"Love you uncle Alfie."

In the hours following Alfie's death, a sea of floral tributes and candles began to appear at a bench on the green by Broadgate Lane.

The nickname 'Alf' was spelled out with tea lights while a toy monkey and childhood photo were left by loved ones.

The tragedy left an entire community united in shock and grief.

Reverend Nigel Sinclair, team rector at St Margaret's Church, attended a community vigil held for Alfie after his death.

"The whole community is so touched by Alfie's death," Rev Sinclair said at the time.