Teen was stabbed by trio over drug dealing - court

Three men murdered a man in a "sustained, violent and targeted attack" in a park in west London a court has heard.

Daniel Matos, 22, and Joshua Cowley, 28, both from Hounslow and Keith Preddie, 33, from Feltham are on trial at the Old Bailey charged with murder over the death of 19-year-old Tyler Donnelly. They all deny the charges.

Mr Donnelly was attacked and killed on the night of the 24 January 2024 in Hanworth Park in Feltham.

His body was found the following morning.

Opening the prosecution case, Julian Evans KC said that the three defendants were known to each other and at least two of them were carrying large knives.

Mr Evans said the victim was subjected to a "sustained, violent and targeted attack", during which Mr Donnelly suffered a number of stab wounds including a fatal wound to his neck.

The court heard that Tyler Donnelly, was involved in drug dealing and cycled to the park with 29 packages of heroin and crack cocaine and over £300 pounds in cash, he was also carrying a large knife.

While the motive of the murder remained unclear, Mr Evans said "it may well be that drugs and drug dealing, lie at the heart of this murder".

Mr Evans said: "It is the prosecution case that all three defendants participated in the fatal violence directed at Tyler Donnelly inside the park, all three having cycled into the park… confronting him and attacking him with weapons".

The prosecution said it did not appear that the motive was robbery as a large amount of cash and some drugs were found on the victim's body.

The three defendants all left the park together on their bikes.

The court heard that of one of the defendants, Daniel Matos, was wearing a GPS tag on his ankle, which recorded his movements at the time, showing he entered the park that night.

Police also recovered a hooded top belonging to Daniel Matos which had blood stains on the right arm and produced a DNA result which matched the profile of Tyler Donnelly.

A cigarette found close to the victim's body, had also produced a DNA match with Matos.

All three defendants have admitted being present at the park but have denied stabbing Mr Donnelly or encouraging anyone to do so, the jury was told.

The trial, which is expected to last for four weeks, continues.

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