Teenager confesses to Britain's first carjack murder

A teenager admitted yesterday that he stabbed a man to death in what is believed to be the first murder during a carjacking in Britain. Dwaine Williams, 18, faces life in prison for the murder of Tim Robinson in front of his girlfriend in south London in January.

A second man, Aaron Jones, 17, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to carjackings and conspiracy to rob. Mr Robinson, a 25-year-old estate agent, and Jemma Joyce, 26, had just left his £20,000 Audi Quattro car outside his flat in Battersea in the early hours when the teenagers started asking Ms Joyce for directions. When Mr Robinson moved closer the teenagers demanded his car keys and a struggle started, the court heard.

Williams stabbed Mr Robinson seven times, once through the heart. Closed-circuit television footage later showed Mr Robinson falling, regaining his footing and collapsing again.

Ms Joyce had begun to scream and the younger defendant placed his hands over her mouth and told her to shut up. Neighbours heard the screams and called police and an ambulance while the youths fled on foot. Mr Robinson died in hospital three days later.

The court had heard that Mr Robinson had insisted on picking Ms Joyce up from a night out in the West End because he did not want her getting a minicab home.

The youths were arrested several days later. Williams, from Brixton, south London, appeared close to tears and slumped forward in the dock after he admitted of murder and held his head in his hands. He is to be sentenced today.

Mr Robinson's parents, Jo and Kenneth, were in court to see him plead guilty. Jones, also from Brixton, who admitted five carjacking robberies between 2001 and 2002 and handling a stolen car, will be sentenced later. The prosecution accepted his plea of not guilty to murder. Jones said he did not know his accomplice was carrying a knife and intended to use it

Police said Williams had been under surveillance, although not on the day of the killing. He was bailed in December following a spate of car thefts. Williams started offending in April 1999 when he was given a conditional discharge for two years for theft. In December 2000, he was convicted of carrying a knife and ordered to do 40 hours community service.

Jones has convictions including robbery. In May 2000 he was sentenced to 18 months in a detention centre for four offences, including a robbery at Ladbrokes where he jumped over the counter and stole from the till.

Mr Robinson's family and friends yesterday described the 25-year-old as having a great appetite for life who earned himself the nickname "Rocket" Robinson. An Arsenal fan, he loved sport and played to win, approaching his job and social life with the same determination to succeed and have fun.

He grew up in the village of Beaulieu, in Hampshire, where the church was packed with 500 people at his memorial service in February. His father, Ken, a former managing director of the national motor museum at Beaulieu, spoke of a young man with great enthusiasm for everything he did.

"Tim's life was full of dreams challenges and successes," Mr Robinson said.