Teenage defendant calls Josh Ingram death 'reckless moment'

The 16-year-old accused is on trial at Hove Crown Court charged with the murder of Joshua Ingram, who was stabbed at Seaford railway station on September 10, 2025.

He has pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter.

He is also accused, along with two youths aged 17 and 15, of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The 15-year-old is also on trial charged with assisting an offender, which the 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to.

On Monday, the 16-year-old defendant told jurors that after the stabbing, he thought: "I genuinely believed I just nicked him, that was it."

"I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, I didn’t think what happened, happened."

The boy said that while being arrested, he asked officers "is he all right?" as it was a "big shock" and he was "worried about Josh", the court heard.

Colin Aylott KC, defending, asked the defendant who was responsible for Joshua’s death.

He replied: "Myself, sir."

Asked if he was guilty of Joshua’s murder, the defendant replied: "No, sir."

The boy said: "I never intended to kill him, I never intended to seriously hurt him."

He added: "I wish I could turn back time, not just for my sake but for Joshua’s as well."

Rossano Scamardella KC, prosecuting, asked the defendant why he carried a knife.

The boy said he viewed it as an "accessory" which he had bought on Telegram but "didn’t look at it for what it actually was".

He added: "It was just a habit, I never produced it, I never hurt anybody."

Mr Scamardella said that was "exactly" what he did on the day Joshua was stabbed.

The boy replied: "It was an impulsive moment, it was a tragic and reckless moment, but I didn’t leave the house intending to use it."

The defendant said he wanted to send a message as he wanted money he was owed, but did not want to kill Joshua and denied there was a plan to do so.

Mr Scamardella told the jury earlier this month that the 16-year-old defendant was a "small-time dealer" who had supplied Joshua with drugs in summer 2025 but had not been paid for them.

He said the three defendants had then "plotted and planned the attack" including discussing where their victim "lived, how and where to attack him and what to use to do so."

Mr Scamardella said: "All of this over a £20 cannabis debt."

The prosecutor said the 16-year-old went to Seaford on the day of the attack with a 19cm knife hidden in his tracksuit bottoms when he approached Joshua, who was from Newhaven, and a friend at the station.

He said the 16-year-old defendant, with his hood pulled up, tapped the friend on the shoulder and asked "Is that Josh?" before pulling out the knife, prompting the friend to shout to warn Joshua that he was about to be attacked.

The prosecutor said the 16-year-old then stabbed Joshua twice.

Messages from the months before the attack, read out in court, included the teenager accused of murder saying: "Josh will perish if I don’t get my f****** money."

The boy said on Monday that the messages were "not serious," adding: "It’s not some sort of plot or plan."

The trial continues.