A FRIEND of a young footballer who was stabbed to death admitted he was carrying a knife on the night they were attacked, a court heard.

Julian Borja, 20, told a jury at the Old Bailey he had “no idea” why he, his brother and stabbed Godwin Lawson were attacked and denied using his knife in the brawl.

Godwin, a 17-year-old footballer, was stabbed in the heart by a gang of young men in east London at around 1.50am on March 27 last year, it is claimed.

He had travelled down from the Oxford United Footaball and Education Academy for a weekend visit home.

Godwin was with Julian and his brother, Daniel Borja, when the fight started in Amhurst Park, Hackney The court has heard Daniel suffered two stab wounds to the back, one to the buttock and one to his arm. Julian was knifed in the stomach.

He admitted he had a knife in his pocket but denied using it during the fight.

Dafydd Enoch QC, representing one defendant, Moise Avorgah, said: “Why was a young man like yourself waiting around the streets of north London at 2am with a knife down his shorts?” Julian Borja replied: “Because of incidents like this.”

Asked if he could see who attacked them, he said: “I couldn't see faces. They were covering their faces with balaclavas or something.”

Moise Avorgah, 20, Daniel Riley, 22, Koffi Osimeh, 19, and Matthew Lanihun, 20, are accused of the killing. They all deny murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of the alternative charge of wounding with intent. The trial continues.