Teen fatally stabbed over shop argument, court told

A man stabbed a teenager to death after getting into an argument with him at a food and wine shop in south-west London, a court has heard.

Rinneau Perrineau, 19, known as Ren, was stabbed at about 15:30 BST on 21 October last year in Lavender Hill, Wandsworth, the Met Police said. He died from his injuries in hospital three days later.

Muhammed Cabdiqaadir, from Wandsworth, denies murdering the 19-year-old following an altercation at Thirsty Camel Food and Wine store.

The Old Bailey heard the 25-year-old stabbed the teen after Perrineau hit his car with a windbreaker which was on display at a neighbouring shop.

Prosecutor Brian O'Neill KC told jurors that the defendant had arrived at the store at around 15:05 on the day of the incident.

He said Perrineau entered at around 15:12 and asked the shopkeeper if he could sell him an iPhone.

The store worker then witnessed Cabdiqaadir, Perrineau and a third man, named as Nijab Rage, arguing before leaving the premises five minutes later.

The court heard that outside, Cabdiqaadir got into his blue Citroen and started driving towards Clapham Junction.

The other two men had remained arguing outside the shop, it was heard.

Cabdiqaadir then returned and Rage got into the passenger seat of his car, O'Neill said.

At that point, Perrineau picked up a windbreaker from outside a neighbouring shop and hit the vehicle as the pair began to drive away, the court heard.

Cabdiqaadir started travelling towards Clapham Junction railway station before performing a U-turn and heading back in the direction of the shop.

The defendant parked the car on the bend of a road and the pair got out to inspect it for any damage, the prosecutor said.

Jurors were told that the victim – who had returned to the shop after the initial altercation – had begun walking up that same road.

As Perrineau approached the corner, the Citroen came into view. Jurors heard the car stopped and the driver's door opened and then closed.

It was said that Perrineau ran around the back of the car and Cabdiqaadir – who was wearing a green hoodie and dark coloured bottoms – exited the vehicle.

Jurors heard that Cabdiqaadir could allegedly be seen holding a small, pointed object in his right hand, which the prosecution said was a knife.

An eyewitness described seeing the defendant "lurch forward towards the other male" before driving off "pretty quickly" afterwards.

O'Neill said the two men had left Perrineau "bleeding from his chest in the street".

It was heard that when the police arrived, they asked the victim how he had been injured, to which Perrineau responded: "I don't know, I think a knife."

The victim was subsequently taken to St George's Hospital and died three days later on 24 October.

The defendant was arrested at an Esso service station in the Slough area on 25 October, the court heard.

When asked for his name by a police officer, he said "no comment", and upon being arrested and cautioned, he allegedly said "are you sure it was me?"

Cabdiqaadir, of Wandsworth, was charged with murder on 26 October and jurors heard that during his first court appearance, he shouted out that "it was self-defence".

O'Neill said: "The prosecution submit that you can be sure that he was not acting in lawful self-defence because it's clear from the CCTV that it was Mr Cabdiqaadir who was the one armed with a knife and Rinneau Perrineau was not."

Cabdiqaadir also denies a charge of possessing a bladed article.

The trial continues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk