A man accused of murdering Jamil Palmer says he stayed with his friend after he was stabbed.

Kishon Zelaya, 18, told the Old Bailey on Friday his four co-defendants ran away after the fight in Crane Park on May 6. He denies murdering Jamil Palmer.

But Mr Zelaya, also known by his nickname Flash, remained with Mr Palmer, who he described as a friend, until the emergency services arrived, the court heard.

The former Richmond College and Kingston College student tried to walk and was “stumbling” after being stabbed during the arranged fight with defendant D, the court heard.

Mr Zelaya, of Hamilton Road, Reading, said: “We tried to pick him up, he took two or three steps and he said ‘Flash, I can’t walk’.”

He told the court he put Mr Palmer, of Belgrade Road, Hampton, into the recovery position and put a shirt over the stab wound.

When asked by his defence barrister Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC what his co-defendants did, Mr Zelaya said they disappeared.

He said: “To be honest, I was mainly focusing on Jamil and then I looked back and they weren’t there – I didn’t see where they ran off to.”

Mr Zelaya said his mind has been “put at rest” in the knowledge Mr Palmer had been taken to hospital.

He visited a shisha bar with friends later on that evening, where he found out Mr Palmer had died, the court heard.

After his arrest Mr Zelaya was recorded by officers saying they would “find him dead in his cell” and was placed on constant watch, Ms Bennett-Jenkins told the jury.

She added: “A doctor called out to see him and given diazepam to calm him down.”

Five people are on trial for Mr Palmer’s murder, a 15-year-old (defendant A), two 16-year-olds (defendant B and C) and a 17-year-old (defendant D), none of whom can be named for legal reasons, and Mr Zelaya.

They all deny murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Earlier, prosecuting John McGuinness QC told defendant B, who evidence began on Wednesday, he knew he was attending a fight which would “involve knives”.

He said: “I suggest you knew [defendant D] didn’t have much chance of beating Jamil Palmer in a fight unless he had the advantage of either a concealed weapon or a weapon to be handed to him by somebody on his side.

The 16-year-old boy responded: “That is absolute lies.”

The trial continues.