Man in court over mob murder of Pc Keith Blakelock

Nicky Jacobs, 45, is accused of stabbing Pc Blakelock, 40, as the officer tried to protect firefighters tackling a blaze at the height of the unrest in on the Broadwater Farm estate in north London in 1985.

A jury at the Old Bailey was told this was the second trial over his murder, the first set of convictions being quashed on appeal.

A fresh investigation into the attack led to the decision to give immunity to some people who admitted kicking and punching the officer, with police focusing on those who attacked with weapons, the court was told.

Rather than facing murder charges, some rioters will be giving evidence under pseudonyms because only those in the “inner circle” of the crowd around the officer were close enough to see.

Opening the prosecution at the Old Bailey, Richard Whittam QC told jurors some witnesses had been paid rewards for their co-operation.

He described how the riots erupted on October 6 1985, the day after a suspect’s mother, Cynthia Jarrett, had died during a police search of her home.

Jacobs was 16, almost 17, at the time of the riot, which followed weeks of tension and concerns that “individuals were planning public disturbances” in Haringey.

The riots were more “sinister” than the later ones in 2011, and at least some rioters were intent on killing a police officer, Mr Whittam said.

He said: “Pc Blakelock suffered something in excess of 40 stab type injuries and there appears to have been an attempt made to decapitate him.”

Mr Whittam told the jury that the allegation against Jacobs was that “he was armed with a bladed weapon and he used it as part of the joint attack” on Pc Blakelock.

Jacobs denies murder. The trial continues today.