Teenager denies city centre stabbing murder
A teenage boy has pleaded not guilty to murdering another teenager who was stabbed to death in Birmingham city centre.
Muhammad Hassam Ali, 17, was attacked on Victoria Square at about 15:30 GMT on 20 January and later died from his injuries.
The 15-year-old defendant, who cannot be named due to a court order, entered his pleas at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.
He also denied unlawful possession of a knife at the scene of the stabbing.
Wearing a white shirt and a black tie, the teenager was remanded into youth detention and told he would stand trial at Coventry Crown Court from 15 July.
During the hearing, his grandfather was allowed to sit in the well of the court.
Victoria Square is one of the largest pedestrian areas of the city, next to the Council House and the Town Hall and near shops and bars.
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