In East London, a 15-year-old boy fatally stabbed a former acquaintance with a pocketknife and subsequently admitted to an online girlfriend that he had killed him “by accident,” according to court proceedings.
Pharrell Garcia, aged 15, sustained a single stab wound to the heart in Stellman Close, Hackney, during July 2024.
The defendant, who remains unnamed for legal reasons and was also 15 at the time, pursued Pharrell after delivering the lethal blow, jurors at the Old Bailey were informed.
Now 16, the boy pleads not guilty to murder, as well as an alternate charge of manslaughter.
The prosecution revealed that it was only after Pharrell fell to the ground that the defendant fled the location and disposed of the knife.
Attempts by bystanders and paramedics to save Pharrell were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, the defendant placed a call to an acquaintance, known to him only from the internet, where he allegedly stated, “I think I just killed Pharrell. I stabbed him in the heart by accident; I meant to stab his leg instead.”
The court also heard that the defendant acknowledged stabbing Pharrell but contended that he had acted in self-defense.
During the opening of the trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Mark Fenhalls KC explained that Pharrell had been attacked with a multi-tool pocketknife, which the defendant claimed was brought to the confrontation by the victim.
As part of the investigation, police spoke with a girl who was at Nando’s with her grandmother when the defendant called regarding the stabbing incident.
She recounted that, prior to the event, Pharrell had remarked that he could “beat him up at any time.”
She was on her way to see her grandmother when the defendant allegedly called to say, “I’m fighting Pharrell today,” as the court was informed.
She attempted to discourage him, saying, “there’s no point in doing anything to him,” according to her testimony.
The girl later shared, “Then I’m at Nando’s with my Nan, and (the defendant) calls me saying, ‘I think I just killed Pharrell.’ I was like, ‘don’t lie,’ because I was in disbelief… He insisted, ‘I think I just killed Pharrell. I stabbed him in the heart by accident; I was supposed to stab his leg.'”
Mr. Fenhalls emphasized that the girl’s statement suggests both boys were anticipating some form of confrontation.
After his arrest the day following the incident, the defendant delivered a pre-prepared statement to police, explaining that he had “fallen out” with Pharrell.
He indicated that the victim had “always held a grudge” against him and was “obsessed with gangs and knives.” He also claimed to possess video footage on his phone showing Pharrell threatening to “shank” him, as presented in court.
In recounting his version of events, the defendant stated, “He approached me on Tuesday and said he had a problem with me again. He pulled a knife from his sock and tried to attack me.”
He expressed that he felt his life was in danger and reacted instinctively to protect himself, pointing out that Pharrell was physically larger and stronger than he was, and he had a broken hand in a cast that needed further surgery.
“I managed to take the knife from him and struck him just once. I was terrified I was going to die and acted in self-defense to protect myself. I never intended to kill him or inflict serious harm—just to safeguard my life,” he explained.
Mr. Fenhalls urged the jury to reflect on why the defendant opted to stab Pharrell after disarming him rather than fleeing the situation.
He asked, “Once that knife is in (the defendant’s) hand, what threat remains? What fear persists?”
Moreover, having stabbed Pharrell, the prosecutor questioned why the defendant then chose to chase him and only fled the scene after Pharrell had collapsed.
The trial is ongoing.
