A TEENAGER has denied killing a young man who died after being stabbed in the leg in the garden of a Coventry house.
Enroy Ruddock (18) of Melbourne Road, Coventry, pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to the murder of 21-year-old Emmanuel Lukenga.
The charge follows an incident in the garden of a house in Franklin Grove, Tile Hill, in the early afternoon of June 12.
Emmanuel, who suffered a serious injury when he was stabbed in the leg, was pronounced dead at the scene following the arrival of paramedics.
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said the trial had already been fixed for December 2, and was initially expected to take up to three weeks.
But he revealed: “There is an ongoing investigation, and there are two further suspects answering bail tomorrow to be interviewed, and the police investigation is continuing.
“One of the things which will have to be considered is that there are 127 separate items of CCTV which will have to be reviewed,” Mr Grieves-Smith pointed out.
And he added: “This is a complex investigation, investigating the facts just prior to the offence and also after the offence.”
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, who is to hear the trial, said he had read the papers in the case, and asked: “Are we going to make the trial date of the 2nd of December?”
And Mr Grieves-Smith responded: “I would be very concerned about giving the court any guarantee that the trial could finish by Christmas.”
He suggested the case be listed for a further hearing towards the end of the month, by which time there would be ‘a clearer picture’ in relation to any decisions following the interviews of the other two people.
Blondel Thompson, defending, said the issues in the case had not been discussed with Ruddock, but he is to be examined by a psychiatrist over the effect a head injury he suffered two years ago has had on him.
The court heard it is said Emmanuel was with others when he was chased by a group of men, two of whom were on a motorbike.
“It is alleged this accused was one of those on the motorcycle,” pointed out Mr Grieves-Smith, who said Emmanuel fled across fences before being stabbed in a garden.
Adjourning the case and remanding Ruddock in custody, Judge Lockhart told Ruddock: “You have heard everything that has been said.
“Lean on Miss Thompson, she will assist you through this process. Tell her what you’re thinking. She is there to assist you.
“Your case will come back before me on the 29th of July when we will decide whether we are able to start your trial on the 2nd of December, or whether it will have to be put back.”
