Boy in park was killed by lonely teenager, court told

'A PERFECTLY normal healthy young boy' playing in the park on a Sunday afternoon was murdered by a lonely and disturbed teenager in a motiveless killing, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

Although Akhlaq Ahmed Razzaq, nine, was naked when he was found strangled in dense shrub and bushes at Salt Hill Park near his home in Slough, Berkshire, there was no sexual element in the murder, Richard Latham QC, for the prosecution, told the jury. He said the boy's clothes were probably removed to destroy forensic science evidence.

Although no one saw the killing there was 'overwhelming circumstantial evidence' that the killer was the youth in the dock, he said. The accused, 17, who cannot be identified for legal reasons was 16 at the time.

Mr Latham, who described the youth as 'a rather lonely and disordered young man' with a low IQ, said he was given to hanging around in public places in Slough and approaching strangers of all ages. The youth, who lives in Slough, has denied murdering the boy last July.

The case continues.