A 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death during what prosecutors allege was a pre-planned street fight over a boy in Leeds, a jury has heard.
Chloe Watson Dransfield, from Gomersal, suffered five stab wounds to her neck and back after travelling to the Austhorpe area in the early hours of March 28.
Kayla Smith, 18, accepts stabbing Chloe and causing the fatal wound and has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denies murder.
Blake Dowling, 18, who had been in relationships with both girls, and Archie Rycroft, 20, also deny murder and manslaughter.
Opening the prosecution case at Leeds Crown Court, Mark McKone told jurors that Smith had repeatedly threatened to stab Chloe during telephone calls before the confrontation.
Girls Agreed To Fight, Jury Told
The court heard Dowling had previously been in relationships with both Smith and Chloe and was aware of the hostility between them.
During the night of March 27 and early hours of March 28, Dowling was at his mother’s house with Chloe while remaining in contact with Smith.
Charlotte Parker, who was also at the property, told the court she heard Chloe speaking to Smith on the phone.
She said Chloe told Smith: “I’m not scared of you, I’m sick of you threatening me, you still dying over Blake, sending him messages that you still love him.”
Ms Parker said she then heard Smith screaming down the phone: “I’m gonna stab you, you little slag speaking about my dead baby.”
The court also heard that around two hours before Chloe’s death, Smith sent Dowling a message saying: “Listen, I love you Blake. I will never find someone that I love like you. Please stop.”
Threat To Stab Chloe In The Throat
A friend who was speaking to Chloe over FaceTime that night said she heard Dowling answer his phone before Smith began shouting.
The witness said Smith could be heard telling Dowling: “Blake I’m gonna smash your head in… you better not be with no girls… Chloe better not be there.”
When Chloe made clear she was present, Smith allegedly replied: “I’m gonna stab you in your throat.”
Jurors were told Chloe later messaged her friend saying she was “off to go fight Kayla” and sent a photograph of herself travelling in the taxi.
Dowling Booked Taxi To Smith’s Home
Prosecutors say Dowling booked the taxi which took Chloe to the area around Smith’s home.
The Crown alleges he knew of the hostility between the two girls and played a role in arranging the confrontation.
Mr McKone told the jury it was the prosecution case that Dowling assisted and encouraged Smith to use violence by taking Chloe to the scene specifically for a fight.
Dowling denies knowing Chloe would suffer really serious harm.
Smith Seen Leaving Summer House
The court heard Smith was living in a summer house in her grandfather’s garden at the time.
CCTV showed her leaving the summer house at around 5.10am wearing pyjamas.
Prosecutors said she could be seen moving quickly with her right hand raised and holding something shiny.
Rycroft was seen following behind her.
Ring doorbell footage played to the jury captured Smith challenging Chloe by shouting: “Come on, big girl.”
Prosecutors say she can then be heard saying: “Come on then, I will stab you.”
The stabbing itself was not captured by the doorbell camera.
Chloe Stabbed Five Times
Jurors were told Smith approached Chloe carrying a knife and stabbed her five times in the neck and back.
Smith accepts that she stabbed Chloe and caused the fatal wound.
She has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder on the basis that she did not intend to kill Chloe or cause her really serious harm.
The prosecution has not accepted the manslaughter plea and is seeking a murder conviction.
Rycroft Accused Of Filming Violence
Rycroft was seen on footage walking behind Smith while holding a mobile phone.
Mr McKone told jurors it was the prosecution case that Smith handed Rycroft her phone so he could record the stabbing.
A video was later deleted from the phone and has never been recovered, the court heard.
Prosecutors allege Rycroft deliberately encouraged Smith by accompanying her to the fight, attempting to record the violence and being available to provide support if needed.
Rycroft denies the allegations.
He says he followed Smith out of curiosity and did not see that she had a knife.
‘You Can’t Ring The Police, She’s Dead’
After the stabbing, Smith and Rycroft ran back towards Smith’s home.
CCTV footage recorded at around 5.12am, approximately one minute after the attack, showed the pair with Smith’s grandfather, Geoff Smith, outside the summer house.
The court heard Geoff Smith say: “I’m ringing the police.”
Smith allegedly replied: “You can’t ring the police, she’s dead.”
An ambulance was called 37 minutes after the stabbing.
A neighbour later saw Geoff Smith performing CPR on Chloe on the footpath.
She was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 6.40am.
Pair Allegedly ‘Laughing And Joking’ When Arrested
The prosecution told jurors that when police later arrested Smith and Rycroft, they were with two friends.
Mr McKone alleged they were “laughing and joking” and using nitrous oxide in front of officers.
Smith accepts responsibility for stabbing Chloe but denies having the intent required for murder.
Three Defendants On Trial
The prosecution alleges Dowling played a part in organising the confrontation and encouraged Smith to be violent by bringing Chloe to the scene.
Dowling denies knowing Smith intended to use a knife or cause Chloe really serious harm.
Prosecutors allege Rycroft encouraged the violence by accompanying Smith and attempting to film the confrontation.
He denies knowing Smith had a knife and denies encouraging murder or manslaughter.
Smith denies murder after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Dowling and Rycroft deny both murder and manslaughter.
The trial continues at Leeds Crown Court.
