At the Old Bailey, a man has been acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Deonte Mowatt-Slater in Islington last year.
The court heard how, in the early hours of 22 October 2024, Deonte suffered stab wounds to the neck and chest before crashing a stolen moped into a lamppost on Courtauld Road. Emergency services were initially called to what was thought to be a road traffic collision. Only once paramedics uncovered his injuries did it become clear he had been attacked. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Deonte had been stabbed during an altercation with 22-year-old Francie McCarthy, who later claimed he had acted in self-defence. McCarthy argued that he feared being robbed and that the teenager was injured when he rode into him while he was holding a knife.
After deliberating for an hour and a half, the jury found McCarthy guilty of manslaughter, having acquitted him of murder. He was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on 30 October.
Edward Brown KC and Katherine Lloyd of QEB Hollis Whiteman appeared for the prosecution, while Sean Larkin KC of QEB Hollis Whiteman represented the defence, leading Jon Anders.
The instructing solicitors were Kerry Spence of Hodge Jones and Allen and the CPS.
The case has been featured in National and Local Press:
Edward Brown KC
Sean Larkin KC
Katherine Lloyd