A TEENAGER accused of murdering 17-year-old Cameron Bailey in High Wycombe allegedly threatened to stab him over selling drugs, a jury has heard.
Cameron was stabbed in Easton Street on Sunday, May 7 this year and five people are standing trial at Reading Crown Court after being charged in relation to his death.
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder, along with Philip Solomon, 37, of no fixed abode, Aaran Pattinson, 32, of Old Tea Warehouse, High Wycombe, and Scott Cordice, 29, of the same address.
Read live updates from court of the first day at trial here.
The jury heard on Wednesday (October 25) that Cameron, who is from Brighton, had been dealing Class A drugs in High Wycombe along with a friend.
It is alleged that the 17-year-old on trial was also running a drug line in the same area and had threatened Cameron to stop selling because he was ‘stealing customers’.
The following day, the 17-year-old along with the three other defendants, reportedly conspired to rob Cameron and his friend of their drugs, money and phones.
However, Cameron was killed during ‘the attack’ and his friend was hospitalised.
Pattinson has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. The other three also deny murdering Cameron.
Opening the case, prosecuting barrister John Lloyd-James said: “This concerns the murder of a 17-year-old man called Cameron Bailey and the attempted murder of his friend, also aged 17, that took place on May 7 this year.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, Cameron and [his friend] are from the Brighton area and they came to High Wycombe.
"It is no secret that they came to High Wycombe to deal Class A drugs - specifically heroin and crack cocaine.
"They began dealing in High Wycombe on a drug line called the 'Max Line'.
"[The 17-year-old] was also associated with a drug line. [The teen], armed with a machete, approached Cameron and [his friend] when they were out selling drugs in High Wycombe.
"[The teen], on that Saturday, warned Cameron and [his friend] to stop dealing. Quite simply because they were stealing his customers.
"[The teen], ladies and gentlemen, on that Saturday threatened to stab them if they didn't leave the area.
"Ladies and gentlemen, that warning was not heeded.”
All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to rob Cameron and his friend which Pattinson and Solomon have pleaded guilty to.
They are also all charged with the attempted murder of Cameron’s friend, with an alternative count of causing grievous bodily harm.
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A fifth defendant Marlon Cato, 49, of Station Close, High Wycombe, is also on stand trial charged with assisting an offender, Cordice, by allegedly helping him hide the clothes and shoes he was wearing during the incident.
The trial continues.
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