Islington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Deonte Mowatt-Slater, 16-years-old, was fatally stabbed before fleeing the scene and crashing his moped into a lamppost in Islington, a court has heard.
He passed away at the scene of the collision and was discovered dead in Islington, north London, early on October 22 of last year.
Islington resident Francie McCarthy, 22, is on trial at the Old Bailey for the alleged murder of Deonte.
Prosecutor Edward Brown KC told jurors on Monday:
“The police and ambulance services were called to what was immediately thought to be a road traffic collision involving a youth on a moped who had, it was then believed, driven into a lamppost.
Deonte had plainly been very badly injured – somehow. He was in a grave condition with very few signs of life. It transpired, however … that he had been stabbed to the front of his neck.
Soon it was discovered that he had been stabbed twice, in fact, he had suffered another stab wound to his chest. He very quickly deteriorated and despite all the efforts of the ambulance service and the specialist medical teams who quickly arrived, he could not be saved or brought back to life.”
Deonte was pronounced dead at 1.16am, the court was told.
“He had been killed,”
Mr Brown added.
“The stab wound to the neck passed through the right carotid artery and subclavian arteries. The second and separate stab wound to the chest passed into the left lung. His death was not caused by any collision with the lamppost, which may itself have been as a result of Deonte losing consciousness as he rode from the scene of the attack.”
According to the prosecution, Deonte and McCarthy met that evening on Courtauld Road in Islington. During the ensuing argument, Deonte was stabbed twice before he rode away and crashed on the same street.
Just after midnight, Rose Galugbo was on her way home when she heard an engine revving and a loud crash, prompting her to summon emergency services.
“She went out to see what had happened and found Deonte on the ground,”
Mr Brown told the jury.
“She was the only person on the street at the time.
Deonte was, in those moments, groaning and just moving – but very soon fell silent. She thought, understandably, that the victim had crashed his moped. It was clear to Ms Galugbo that Deonte was bleeding – she saw blood seeping out as soon as she went to him.”
The court was informed that Nel Richards heard two males or boys yelling prior to the collision.
The prosecution claims that she witnessed McCarthy rushing away from her window while wearing grey jogging bottoms.
Jurors were also shown CCTV footage from the scene, which shows a moped speeding down the road and then vanishing from view after several loud revvings.
“Come here!” is yelled by a man wearing grey jogging pants as he runs down the road, seemingly pursuing the moped, after a loud bang.McCarthy disputes one murder charge.
The trial goes on.
How have local communities responded to Deonte’s death and the ongoing investigation?
Local communities in Islington have responded to the tragic death of 16-year-old Deonte Mowatt-Slater with deep sadness and concern about youth violence and knife crime. Community members have expressed shock and grief over the circumstances of his fatal stabbing and moped crash.
There have been calls for increased support and intervention to prevent similar tragedies, including more outreach programs for young people and greater police presence in areas affected by violence. Local groups and activists emphasize the need for investment in youth services, education, and mental health support to address the root causes of violence.
The police have stepped up patrols in Islington and engaged with community leaders to reassure residents and collaborate on crime prevention efforts.