A TEENAGER who was stabbed to death in Essex “was obsessed with bitcoin” and went to a drug deal armed with a flick knife, a court has heard.

Andy Wood was killed in February last year when he met with Elijah Clark in Chelmsford to sell him cannabis and cigarettes.

Clark, of Gloucester Avenue, Chelmsford is accused of murder, manslaughter, possession of a bladed article, and actual bodily harm.

The prosecution argue Clark, 18, lured Mr Wood and his friend into woodland known as mud hills before stabbing Mr Wood to death, but the defence argue Clark acted in self-defence.

Gazette: Scene – forensics attend the scene of the killing in ChelmsfordScene – forensics attend the scene of the killing in Chelmsford (Image: Press Association)

On Monday, the trial heard evidence from Andy Wood’s girlfriend, who was interviewed by detective constable Liz Young the day after Mr Wood’s death.

A recording of the interview was played to the jury, with Mr Wood’s girlfriend saying she saw messages sent by Clark to Mr Wood’s friend which read “come more into the woods”.

Det Con Young asked: “What were they texting about?”

Mr Wood’s girlfriend replied: “The only messages I saw were a guy saying ‘come more into the woods, it’s bait, this place is near my house, I don’t want people knowing where I live’.

“Me and Andy’s friend were saying [shakes head].

“[We thought] something is going on here, this is not normal, it’s pitch black and we couldn’t see anything.”

She said in an interview how Mr Wood “was saying ‘I’ve got to deal, I’ve got to deal, I’ve got to take it, I’ve got to take it’.

“I was like ‘OK’.

“He got really excited about it – it was quite an expensive deal or something.”

Gazette: Jury – Elijah Clark is being tried by a jury at the crown court in ChelmsfordJury – Elijah Clark is being tried by a jury at the crown court in Chelmsford (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard how Mr Wood had an obsession with bitcoin, and that he and his friend had carried a multi-coloured knife to the scene.

Det Con Young asked: “Before you all left, who had a knife?”

Mr Wood’s girlfriend replied: “I’m not sure which one of them had a knife – they had a little flick knife, I think that’s what it was called.”

When asked whether Mr Wood used bitcoin, she replied: “He was obsessed with bitcoin; I didn’t really understand it myself.”

The trial continues.