Passers-by tried in vain to save life of teen after attack

DRIVERS INITIALLY THOUGHT YOUNG MAN WAS DRUNK AS HE STAGGERED INTO THEIR PATH ON BUSY ROAD

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

WITNESSES have told a murder trial how they saw an 18-year-old stabbing victim collapse in the road before passersby tried in vain to save his life.

Chef Hassan Mahmood said he stopped his car after witnessing Noah Smedley stagger into the middle of the road and then drop to the tarmac.

Sarah Nicholson said she saw women trying to keep the teenager alive with chest compressions while a third witness, Ross Pepper said he called 999 and told them: "There's a lad in the road dying - I don't know what to do to help him."

Mr Smedley died after being stabbed in Ilkeston by rap-loving 17-year-old Charlie Hartle.

The knifeman, now 18, denies murder and is on trial at Derby Crown Court.

Prosecutor Adrian Langdale read out a number of statements made by those who saw the aftermath of the stabbing in Rose Avenue.

Mr Mahmood said he was driving back to the restaurant where he worked having delivered food to a customer.

He said: "As I approached the traffic lights a person wandered into the road, he was swaying from side to side. I thought he was drunk. I slowed down to 10mph, he waved his arm and fell down in the road. I stopped.

"I saw he was a young male, the left side of his jacket was wet with what I thought was blood. He looked in a bad way and I called 999.