A Romford teenager accused of stabbing a youth to death on his 16th birthday has denied murder.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of killing Derek Boateng while he was on a crowded single-decker bus near Highbury New Park in north London.

Appearing at the Old Bailey today he pleaded not guilty to murder.

The knife attack happened on April 23 as Derek was on how way home in Hackney, on a packed route 393 bus.

He was taken by air ambulance to an east London hospital but died later the following day on what was his 16th birthday.

Judge Peter Rook QC fixed October 28 as the starting date for the 15-year-old’s two-week trial.