A TEENAGER bragged he was going to 'bust' a murder charge after he was involved in the gang stabbing of a Fulham chef, a court has heard.
Polish-born Krzysztof Rusek, who worked at the Ibis Hotel, in Lillie Road, was knifed through the heart after four attackers demanded cash from him and his friends as they walked home after celebrating his 30th birthday, in the early hours of June 7.
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke candidly about the killing on the West Kensington estate after being released on bail following his arrest, the Old Bailey heard last week.
A witness, who spoke from behind a screen with a distorted voice and is referred to only as Mr 197, claimed that he overhead the group discussing the stabbing.
Giving evidence to the court, the witness said he heard the 16-year-old boasting that he 'was going to bust the M charge.'
John Aspinall QC, defending, pressed the anonymous witness on whether he could have confused what he heard with news reports or the murder.
Mr 197 told Mr Aspinall that he was aware of the stabbing from 'other people, not TV or radio'.
The defence counsel have been prevented from knowing Mr 197's true identity, or even the date that the conversation allegedly took place, in order to protect him from a revenge attack.
The 16-year-old, joined by Ruairi Bicknell, 18, of Sinclair Road, and two 17-year-olds, also from West Kensington, are said to have confronted Mr Rusek and his friends in a small park area near Lillie Road at about 1.50am.
One of his co-workers handed over £12 in small change, while another was saved when a blade hit bankcards in his wallet.
Mr Rusek, who lived in Neasden, died four hours later in hospital from 'massive' internal bleeding.
Jurors earlier watched CCTV footage said to show the muggers fleeing the scene moments after the attack.
All four deny murder.
The trial continues.
