Teenager accused of murdering 16-year-old Harley Barfield in Haverhill stabbing allegedly Googled 'how to stab someone' before attack

The trial of a teenager accused of stabbing 16-year-old Harley Barfield to death in January opened this morning.

At Ipswich Crown Court, jurors were sworn in for the case, which is expected to last a month.

The 16-year-old defendant – who cannot be named for legal reasons – has been charged with murder over Harley’s death in Haverhill in January.

Opening the case today, prosecuting barrister Riel Karmy-Jones KC alleged that Harley was killed over a relationship with a girl.

The prosecution said that there was an ambush in the Strasbourg Square car park, in which the accused stabbed Harley.

Police found a number of incriminating Internet searches on the defendant's phone from the period leading up to the stabbing.

These included: ‘how to stab someone,’ ‘safest place to be stabbed,’ and ‘how long in prison for murder'.

Ms Karmy-Jones KC alleges that the defendant approached Harley on the walk back from school, in the car park near Strasbourg Square in Haverhill.

The accused had earlier picked up a steak knife, and the prosecution maintain that he had set out with the intention of killing Harley.

Ms Karmy-Jones KC said of the defendant: “He was incredibly obsessive. He, armed with a knife, meant to find Harley Barfield.”

Harley, a pupil at Stour Valley Community School, was in the company of two friends at the time of the stabbing.

The prosecution claims that the defendant approached Harley, challenging him to a fight.

The defendant produced a knife and launched a “frenzied” attack.

Ms Karmy-Jones KC said: “Harley was cut below his neck, top and back of his head, along his cheek, his lip, and on his right shoulder.

“There were small defensive wounds to his hands and his wrist.”

One stab punctured Harley’s heart.

He was rushed to Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge by paramedics, where he died two days later of multiple organ failure.

The prosecution said that, following the attack, the defendant fled the scene.

Ms Karmy-Jones KC said he went to a relative’s house, where he told them: “I’ve just stabbed someone. Call the police.”

The accused was subsequently arrested there.

He initially told police that it was Harley who attacked first, and who produced the knife.

By his own account, the defendant was only able to pick up the blade and stab Harley after Harley dropped it.

However, Ms Karmy-Jones KC said that the blade was later found to be part of a set of steak knives kept at home by the defendant’s family.

Following this revelation, the accused pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a bladed article.

He denies murdering Harley, but has accepted a charge of manslaughter.

The trial continues