The trial of four young men accused of murdering 19-year-old Andre Aderemi in South Croydon began this morning.

Aspiring rap artist Mr Aderemi, known as Dee Rose, was fatally stabbed on August 16 last year in the Monks Hill estate.

Mr Aderemi, who lived on the estate before he moved to Chatham in Kent, was found bleeding to death in Heather Way.

The former Oasis Academy Shirley Park and John Ruskin College pupil was taken to hospital but later died.

A murder investigation was then launched and four men were arrested and charged with his murder.

Ali Zahawy, 20, of Bramble Close, Shirley, Femi Cela, 19, of Fryston Avenue, Addiscombe, Jamell Lonergan, 19, of Woodcroft Road, Thornton Heath, and Rodney Mukasa, 20, of Greenview Avenue, Shirley, have all pleaded not guilty to murder.

The trial is expected to last seven weeks.

Rows of flowers and dozens of heartbreaking messages were laid in the estate in an outpouring of grief over his death.

Family, friends and residents of Monks Hill estate left tributes to “lovely" Aderemi at the spot where he was knifed to death.