Teenager, 17, on trial accused of murdering his 'mate' denies having 'beef' with him

A teenager on trial accused of murdering his 'mate' denied having any 'beef' with him. The 17-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, is one of four teenagers on trial accused of the murder of Kyle Hackland.

Mr Hackland, 17, was stabbed to death in Withington in November last year. Prosecutors claim he was murdered as part of a 'revenge' attack, after one of his alleged killers was robbed during a drug deal the day before.

Manchester Crown Court has heard Yousef Sesay had about £1,000 stolen while trying to buy cannabis, and believed he had been set up by Mr Hackland's friend. Mr Hackland was fatally attacked on November 22 after he was seen on Southlea Road with his friend, prosecutors said.

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Four young men are currently on trial accused of murder. The 17-year-old defendant, Yousef Sesay and Lewis Ludford, both 18, and a 16-year-old boy all deny murder.

On Wednesday, Mr Sesay's barrister David Temkin KC told jurors that his client would not be giving evidence at the trial. Then the 17-year-old became the third defendant to take to the witness box to give evidence before jurors.

He told them that he'd known Mr Hackland for a 'long time', describing him as a 'good kid' and agreeing he was his 'mate'. His barrister David McLachlan KC asked him: "Did you have any problem with Kyle Hackland at that stage?

"No, not at all," the defendant said.

The KC continued: "Did you have any beef with him?" "No," the defendant replied.

The teenager said that on the morning of November 22 he was driving a VW Golf, which he'd bought from a friend the day before for about £1,500. He said he was going to use the car for 'selling drugs'.

The teenager said he