Party host, 21, ‘stabbed gatecrashing teen to death because he was trying to stop more people coming in so he wouldn’t get in trouble with his mum’
The man denies murdering the 17-year-old who he refused entry and allegedly called a "street rat" which caused the fight that broke out between them
A YOUNG man stabbed a gatecrasher to his party because he was trying to limit the number of guests coming in and didn't want to get in trouble with his mum, a court has heard today.
Host Jemal Williams is accused of knifing 17-year-old Shaquan Sammy-Plummer in the chest outside his home at in north London.
The 21-year-old and his sister had been throwing a joint house party on the night of Shaquan's death.
Williams claimed Shaquan pulled out a knife when he told him he couldn't come in.
The court heard that the victim had arrived at the party with two friends - but was refused entry because he didn't know Williams or his sister Amber very well.
Shaquan was friends with Amber's boyfriend Chris Nzeh - known as CK or "Certified Killer".
A fight broke out at the home in Berkeley Gardens, Winchmore Hill, as he and Williams argued out on the street, the Old Bailey heard.
Shaquan, who worked part-time at Waitrose and studied at LaSWAP Sixth Form College in Camden, was declared dead shortly after being airlifted to hospital on January 30 last year.
He became the 15th teenager to be stabbed to death on London's streets in just 12 months.
Today Williams said he had been "fighting for his life" as Shaquan tried to plunge the knife into his chest, and he was fatally injured as he tried to push him away.
He claimed the 17-year-old had become enraged when he referred to him as "any old street rat".
Defending, Michael Bromley-Martin QC asked: "When you pushed or shoved him away from you did you hope that it would kill him?
"Did you hope or intend you would case him really serious harm?"
"No," he replied.
"I grabbed his wrists with both my hands, I was trying to push the guy away from me. He was trying to push it towards me."
The 21-year-old party host said his house was already pretty full when Shaquan and his mates arrived.
He told the court: "I explained my mum was asleep and my brother was asleep. I said CK could come in.
"If my mum doesn't know they are coming then they can't come inside the house.
"My sister told me CK was coming along - he asked if his friends could come in but I explained I couldn't let them in.
"I was making up excuses, I didn't want them thinking it was me. I said: 'It's not up to me. It's my mum, she's not happy, she's already complained'.
"CK said: 'Come and talk to me, let's walk and talk'. I came out and we all walked up the path.
"I was saying; 'I don't have any problems with anyone' and they were saying; "come on, we should come in, we haven't done anything wrong to you'.
The defendant said he and the three boys had positioned themselves so the girls at the party couldn't see them arguing out of the bedroom window.
"I said: 'You can't just bring any old street rats to my house'. - Shaquan must have heard it and got angry.
"He said: 'Are you calling me a street rat? You're a f*cking d*ck head'.
"He walked up to me face to face and pulled out a knife - he pulled out the knife with his right hand."
After Shaquan fell to the floor, Williams said he ran through his house, down the back garden and jumped the fence before making his way to a friend's house in Tottenham.
He admitted it was normal for him to carry a knife, and he has a previous conviction for possession of a blade and armed robbery as a juvenile.
"Every one does, we all carry knives," he added.
Since the incident, CK has been convicted of manslaughter, jurors heard.
Williams said he had met Shaquan a couple of times at parties and had chatted to him but didn't know him well.
The police investigation was hampered by witnesses' refusal to cooperate with cops, the Old Bailey heard.
Williams was arrested 10 days after the murder, but was only re-arrested and charged in October last year.
He denies murder.
The trial continues.