Youth admits killing schoolboy footballer

LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) A teenager today admitted stabbing to death a promising 15-year-old soccer player outside a London school in May.

The 16-year-old attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Kiyan Prince but admitted to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Prosecutors rejected the plea offer, meaning the teenager will stand trial tomorrow for the murder of Prince, a youth team player at soccer club Queens Park Rangers.

The teenager, dressed in a grey suit, sat behind his lawyers in court because of his age.

Prince died in hospital from his wounds after the stabbing outside the London Academy in Edgware, northwest London.

His death, which came a week before the launch of a nationwide knife amnesty, prompted widespread concern over the level of knife crime.

The court heard that several witnesses will be giving evidence via video, because of their young age.

The trial is expected to last about six days.

REUTERS SAM RN2151