Teenagers in court over Kinsella murder

4 July 2008 12:37pm

The family of Ben Kinsella came face to face with the three youths accused of his murder.

Ben's mother Deborah, father George and sister Jade sat in Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court together as the teenagers appeared in the dock today (Friday).

Juress Kika, 18, Michael Alleyne, 18, and Jade Braithwaite, 19, were remanded in custody until October 13.

Ben, 16, brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella - who wasn't in court today - was stabbed repeatedly in York Way, Islington, at about 2am Sunday.

He'd been out with friends at the nearby Shillibeers bar when a fight broke out inside. Detectives believe several youths were ejected from the bar and trouble continued down the street.

Ben died in the arms of friend Louis Robson, 16, son of actress Linda Robson.

Kika and Alleyne were arrested late on Monday night at an address in the Chadwell Heath area of east London, while Braithwaite was arrested in Bethnal Green, east London, on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old man arrested in Islington on Monday has been bailed to return to a London police station in mid-August pending further inquiries.

Today, Braithwaite appeared in the dock first. After he was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey later this year, Kika and Alleyne were brought into the dock. The two spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth.

Deputy District Judge Alan Jones said their addresses wouldn't be made public because of fears of reprisal attacks against their families. No applications for bail were made on behalf of any of the three defendants.

© The Press Association