A 16-year-old accused of planning a revenge killing on a man with another boy told a court he never planned any attack on him.
The 16-year-old is currently on trial accused of the manslaughter of Connor Dockerty.
The 23-year-old victim was attacked near the Oak Tree pub in Kingsway in Huyton in April last year and died within an hour.
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A jury at Liverpool Crown Court was told last week that Boy A, now 15, was convicted of murder on December 2.
A second teenager, Boy B, who was then aged 15 but is now 16, denies a charge of manslaughter.
Neither boy can be named for legal reasons.
Earlier in the trial, Tania Griffiths, QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the prosecution case was the two teens "jointly attacked" the victim in a "planned attack", at around 8pm, on Monday, April 19.
Ms Griffiths told the court Boy B “not only took part in the joint attack, he appears to have instigated it, in revenge for Connor having slighted his girlfriend”.
Yet facing questions today, Boy B denied any prior knowledge of what would happen to Dockerty and rejected the idea there was any plot to do Mr Dockerty harm.
Referencing CCTV showing Boy B and another teen, Boy C, in the vicinity of where the attack took place, Ms Griffiths asked him whether he was preparing to meet Boy A there to attack Mr Dockerty.
Ms Griffiths said: “Is that because that is where you planned to meet them to beat up Connor?”
Boy B replied: “There was no plan to take part in.”
Later, Ms Griffiths again asked Boy B why he and Boy A were later both captured on CCTV close to where Mr Dockerty was killed just prior to the attack on him taking place.
Ms Griffiths said: “I am suggesting that the plan was that you and [Boy A] were going to find him.
Boy B replied: “There was no plan.”
Earlier in the day, Boy B told Nigel Power, QC, his defence counsel, he had no idea Boy A was carrying the knife used to stab Mr Dockerty.
Responding to multiple questions from Mr Power, Boy B said he was never aware that Boy A, who described as "a mate of a mate" was carrying a knife prior to him stabbing Mr Dockerty and said he was never aware Boy A had carried knives before.
Mr Power said: "Did you know or suspect he had a knife with him?"
Boy B replied: "No."
Mr Power then asked: "Had you ever seen him with a knife?"
Boy B replied: "No."
Mr Power then asked: "Had he told you that he carried a knife?"
Boy B replied: "No."
Finally, Mr Power asked: "Had you ever heard any rumours that he was a person who carried a knife?"
Boy B replied: "No."
Boy B also said that contrary to prosecution arguments he did not fly into a rage earlier in the evening after his girlfriend told him she was assaulted by Mr Dockerty.
He said he had been with Boy A and Boy C when she rang him and left both of them to go and find her without telling them what had happened, though he said it was possible they overheard him speaking to her.
Boy B said that when he saw Boy A attacking Mr Dockerty a few minutes later on Kingsway he tried to stop him from stabbing him before both teens ran off away from the scene.
Mr Dockerty died shortly after the attack.
The following day, Boy B's dad rang police to say his son had information about the stabbing, and police visited his home to interview him as a potential witness.
Both Boy A and Boy B were later arrested and charged.
Proceeding
