Caversham stabbing: witness saw two people fleeing scene

A pair of youths - who cannot be named for legal reasons - are standing trial at Reading Crown Court, charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent.

This is in relation to an incident which occurred in the early hours of August 9, 2023.

The prosecution claims that the teens ambushed another boy following a dispute over a fake Louis Vuitton handbag.

One of the youths allegedly set upon the victim with scalpel, stabbing him three times.

The boy was hospitalised, and his life was only saved by emergency surgery.

The defendants deny all charges against them.

Today (June 17), a man testified that he saw two individuals leaving Hemdean Road moments after the stabbing.

The witness was returning home from a late shift at work when he heard a 'commotion.'

He told the court: "What I heard was quite aggressive shouting, and it made me a little bit nervous.

"I didn't see anything, but there was definitely people up there [in Hemdean Road]."

The witness continued: "I heard what I thought was fighting. I couldn't hear words, but I can tell you that it was aggressive.

"I just had this feeling in my stomach that something was going on. I thought in my stomach: 'I don't want to get involved in this.'"

Two individuals - who looked 'stressed and agitated' - then emerged from the road.

The man described one of the figures as 'wiry' and clad in black clothing, while the other was riding a bike.

While he did not witness the stabbing itself, the man testified that he left the scene quickly, fearing trouble.

He stated: "I wanted to put a bit of distance between myself and what had happened."

The defendants were arrested shortly after the stabbing.

A police report compiled just after they were detained was read to jurors by prosecuting barrister Patrick Dennis.

In the report, an investigator said they found 'cuts and bruises' on the hands of the teen accused of carrying out the stabbing.

The trial continues.