Boy, 16, denies hacking teen to death with zombie knife at East Croydon station

A SCHOOLBOY has today denied stabbing a 16-year-old rival to death with a zombie knife in a rush-hour attack at a busy London railway station.

Louis Johnson was left dying in a pool of his blood after the 40-second knife attack at East Croydon station in South London.

Louis was travelling home to his mother in South Norwood when he was killed after entering the station through a ticket barrier at 4.45pm on January 2.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link from HMP Feltham, accused of murdering Louis on the station bridge in front of horrified commuters.

The prosecution claim the youth was caught on CCTV carrying a large zombie knife and was either known to the victim "or their gangs were known to each other".

Louis was then stabbed once to the heart and the "zombie-type knife" hit a major blood vessel and he tragically died at the scene, the court heard .

Tyrone Smith QC, defending, indicated the boy will admit possession of the knife but will claim he acted in self-defence.

The 16-year-old, of Wandsworth, South London, denies murder and possession of a bladed article.

He was remanded in custody ahead of his trial which is expected to last two weeks.