Schoolgirl 'set up' Victoria station killing

A schoolgirl was at the heart of a fatal attack on a 15-year-old boy stabbed to death at Victoria station in London, the Old Bailey heard today.

Victoria Osoteku, 18, bought a set of knives to give to other pupils and was one of the teenagers responsible for setting up the fatal confrontation, jurors were told.

The A-level student sent messages arranging the clash between pupils from rival schools, it was alleged.

Sofyen Belamouadden died after being chased into the underground station and attacked in March last year.

Osoteku, now 19, from Deptford, south-east London, denies murder, conspiracy to cause GBH and violent disorder.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said: "She was one of those who set up and organised the confrontation that led to the death.

"Her responsibility for the death is very great indeed, even though it was others that delivered the final fatal blows that led to Sofyen Belamouadden's death."

He said she and another pupil were "at the heart" of all the communication and "were in effect the focal point".

"In that way their responsibility for what followed was greater," said Mr Heywood.

Osoteku's friends were armed with knives including a set of kitchen knives bought by two of the pupils in their lunch break.

"One of those two that went on that purchasing expedition was this defendant Victoria Osoteku," said Mr Heywood.

The court was told that around 20 hooded and masked pupils charged a smaller group at the station.

Most of them fled across the bus station but Sofyen was cornered at the underground station and attacked before he fell down a flight of stairs into the ticket hall.

He was then attacked and kicked as he lay helplessly on the ground and as horrified passengers watched.