Teenager goes on trial accused of murder of 16 year old Harley Barfield in Haverhill
Harley died in hospital after being stabbed in a car park in January
Last updated 10th Oct 2023
A teenage boy has been gone on trial accused of murder following the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in Haverhill.
Harley Barfield was stabbed in what the prosecution described as a "frenzied attack" on the 9th of January this year.
Ipswich Crown Court heard that Harley was "funny, loyal, protective of his friends and very much loved."
The attack happened at around 3 p.m. in a car park next to Strasbourg Square, where a fight is said to have happened involving Harley and one other boy.
The 16 year old, from Haverhill, was initially taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for treatment, before being transferred to the Royal Papworth Hospital.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he passed away on the morning of Wednesday 11 January of multiple organ failure.
Ipswich Crown Court heard how some of Harley's friends tried to stem the bleeding after he was struck multiple times.
He suffered stab wounds on the centre and left side of his chest, one of which penetrated the right ventricle of his heart. He also had wounds on his neck, head and hands.
A 17-year-old boy from the Haverhill area has denied murder but has admitted possession of a knife and manslaughter.
Today (October 10) the defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court for the first day of his trial.
The prosecution described the defendant as "inflexible" and “all or nothing" in their thinking. They meet the requirements for Autistic Spectrum Disorder as well as possibly having "PTSD...a history of mood dysfunction, poor social coping ability and poor empathetic capacity."
The court also heard how the defendant would cause themselves harm.
The defendant appeared in court today but refused to look up, keeping their gaze on the floor the entire time.
Hearings are expected to last around a month.