THE cousin of a murdered Hampshire teenager has told a court of the events on the evening he died.

Daniel Hawkins had been at a Southampton pub with Lewis Singleton and other friends in the hours before the 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in March last year.

On the second day of the Winchester Crown Court trial of four people for Lewis's murder, Mr Hawkins described an incident that took place on the Itchen Bridge as the pair walked home with two other friends, Craig Smith and Damien Gorman.

As the four approached a group of people they knew on the bridge one accused Mr Smith of being racist.

Mr Hawkins said one of the defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was challenged by Mr Smith but the situation was defused and the four friends went on their way.

Shortly afterwards Lewis and Mr Smith were ambushed.

Rikki Johnson and Sercan Calik both then 18, and two youths aged 15 and 16 at the time, are accused of being members of a five-strong gang who waited for Lewis and Mr Smith in a car before jumping out and attacking them.

Although his friend managed to run away Lewis was repeatedly stabbed and kicked and despite the efforts of paramedics died hours later.

This morning Mr Hawkins told the court that after the confrontation on the bridge he and Mr Gorman left to return to the latter's house expecting Lewis and Mr Smith to follow behind.

"As we climbed over the railings he (one of the defendants) said something like watch' to Craig which was meant as an implied threat." Said Mr Hawkins.

"When they didn't arrive at Damien's we went to Craig's house to see if they were there.

"I had just got around the corner when I heard screaming and Craig running towards his house shouting he's been stabbed'. I saw Lewis on his own and phoned an ambulance and then my uncle, Lewis's dad."

Under cross-examination Mr Hawkins denied misquoting his client and being "hopelessly drunk".

"I haven't been able to drink much at the pub because I was mcing', said Mr Hawkins.

"I was fine. We all were."

"He (the defendant) looked like he wanted trouble to me but when Craig appeared he wasn't on it."

"Craig had put it to him and he felt stupid."