FRIENDS of a 15-year-old boy stabbed through the heart severely beat the man responsible after realising a knife had been used, a court heard today.

The group of youths attacked Aaron Roche after seeing Dele Masters - known as Dele Little to his family and friends - had been stabbed and watching him collapse to the ground. He was bleeding heavily from his chest as he lay on the pavement outside a Hampshire doctors surgery and dentist.

The youngster died just over an hour after the single knife wound to his chest, inflicted by Roche who used a "butterfly" style knife with a nine centimetre blade which he had in his back pocket.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Roche, now 21, had got the knife along with a DVD that taught him how to "do tricks" with it.

The court heard how Roche had ran to the scene at the West Totton Centre on the night of Saturday February 3 this year after hearing his girlfriend Kayleigh Shinn was being attacked and pushed to the ground by Dele Little.

Miss Shinn had gone to the centre with a 17-year-old friend, who she had spent the afternoon drinking with, to buy cigarettes. While they were there both girls said they were verbally abused and then surrounded by a gang of around 15 youths - the ringleader being stabbing victim Dele.

Winchester Crown Court heard how the 17-year-old girl raised the alarm about what was happening and when Roche arrived Dele and his two friends had left the area and walked off towards Asda in Totton.

Jurors heard how Roche was angry and shouting that he was going to "stab and kill" Dele Little.

Prosecutor Christopher Parker QC told the court as he opened his case against Roche how the defendant had calmed down when Dele Little returned to the scene around 9pm after being told Roche was there by some friends who had called him on his phone.

The court heard how Dele, who was much bigger and stronger than Roche, had come back looking to fight the 20-year-old ground worker.

Watched by his friends, Dele either threw a punch or headbutted Roche.

Mr Parker said: "Dele Little was quite happy to have a fight with Aaron Roche.

"Without any hesitation Dele Little approached the defendant and either punched the defendant or headbutted him."

He added that Roche's hooded top was pulled over his head and he was punched and kicked.

Mr Parker told jurors: "At that point, without any warning, Aaron Roche took the knife from his back pocket, he opened it and he stabbed Dele Little through the heart.

"There is some evidence that he may have tried to do so more than once."

The court heard how when Dele's friends saw the knife they set upon him and "thoroughly beat him" at the scene. Roche managed to escape the scene on foot when the attack stopped and the boys attended to Dele, who had collapsed on the ground.

Police were called and found Roche at an address in Oakdene in Totton at around 9.15pm where he was arrested.

He was blood soaked and told officers he had produced the knife in order to frighten off his "assailants".

Mr Parker told jurors how Roche said if he had stabbed Dele, it had been an accident.

The fight had taken place in a circular area known as the "bull ring" which is a popular meeting place for young people.

Roche of Ringwood Road, Lyndhurst, denies the charge of murder.

Proceeding.