THE jury is considering its verdict in the case of five boys accused of killing a student during a robbery.

Ezekiel Amosu, 17, died instantly when he fell beneath a bus in Forest Road, Walthamstow, in January last year.

The prosecution claimed a 13-year-old friend of Mr Amosu, who cannot be named for legal reasons, set up the robbery which led to the death.

The Old Bailey heard the boy had confessed to his stepmother to arranging the robbery in return for a cut of the proceeds.

He was with Mr Amosu, a student at Leyton Sixth Form College in Essex Road, and three 16-year-old friends when they were approached by three youths in Essex Close, Walthamstow, the jury was told.

Sarah Plaschkes, prosecuting, said: “Ezekiel was threatened with a piece of wood and rocks were thrown at him.

“He tried to escape by running towards Forest Road.”

The court heard one of the accused shouted “stop him” and a fourth boy on a bicycle stuck out his foot and tripped him up.

It was then that Mr Amosu fell into the road and was hit by a bus.

The Old Bailey was told that Mr Amosu’s friend had been called as a witness when the four teenagers first went on trial in January, but is now also accused of manslaughter.

Miss Plaschkes continued: “He had been in contact with the first three defendants during the course of that trial by text, phone calls and possibly voice messages and together they agreed that he would change his evidence to help the first three defendants.

“He was also in contact with a lady who had been his stepmother and he told her by text that he agreed the robberies could go ahead if he got a cut.

“Thus he was a party not just to the attempted robbery but also the fear Ezekiel Amosu was put in before he ran.”

Judith Khan QC, representing the 17-year-old accused of tripping the victim, said the incident was an “accident of fate” and he had tried to get out of the way before Mr Amosu fell.

The five teenagers all deny manslaughter and attempted robbery.

The trial continues.