Four teenagers alleged to have been involved in a Belfast greengrocer's murder ran off shouting and jeering as the victim lay dying in the street, it has been claimed in the High Court in Belfast.
New details of what allegedly happened on the night Harry Holland (65) was stabbed in the head with a screwdriver were revealed as one of the youths was refused compassionate bail to attend a family Christening.
Rejecting the application from the 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, Mr Justice McLaughlin also warned him he faced years in jail if found guilty of being armed with a knife and involved in what he called a "diabolical attack".
The judge said: "I have said it until I am blue in the face, anybody who takes a weapon on to the streets, and in particular a knife or firearm, and is convicted of such an offence, is going to prison for a very, very long time, whether they are juveniles or adults.
"When that message gets across to young people who may be tempted to carry knives, they may think twice before going pre-armed on to the streets."
Mr Justice McLaughlin delivered his warning to the teenager charged with affray, possessing an offensive weapon and attempted wounding in connection with Mr Holland's murder in September. A 16-year-old youth has been charged with his murder.
Relatives of Mr Holland and the accused listened as a Crown lawyer claimed the greengrocer was surrounded by two boys and two girls after trying to stop thieves stealing a van from outside his Norfolk Drive home.
A neighbour said he confronted the four youths after seeing them acting aggressively towards Mr Holland. Barrister David Reid told the court: "He saw the applicant and a co-accused around Mr Holland shouting and arguing with him.
"He became aware this [ bail] applicant was stalking him whilst the girls came closer. He described them as very aggressive and very nasty." Two of the group, then turned on the witness and threatened to "do him", the Crown counsel claimed.
The judge ruled the bail application did not meet compassionate bail conditions.