1:40pm Monday 5th January 2009
Five youths and a teenage girl today denied the murder of Shakilus Townsend who was beaten with a baseball bat and stabbed.
The 16-year-old was attacked in Thornton Heath in July last year and died in hospital the next day.
Tyrell Ellis and Danny McLean, both 18 and from Thornton Heath, appeared at the Old Bailey today and denied murder.
Two youths aged 17, another aged 16, and a 16-year-old girl, none of whom can be named because of their ages, also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Another 17-year-old youth, who also appeared in court charged with the murder, has not yet entered a plea.
An eight-week trial is expected to begin at the Old Bailey on April 15.
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