A TEENAGER accused of murdering a 35-year-old Christchurch man told a friend “it is what it is” after admitting “there is evidence there”, a court heard.

Two boys, a 16-year-old from Christchurch and a 17-year-old from Bournemouth, are accused of stabbing and slashing Edward Reeve more than a dozen times at his home in Heath Road, Walkford on New Year’s Eve 2021.

The jury at a trial at Winchester Crown Court were read the agreed facts on Thursday, as the prosecution case neared its conclusion.

Junior prosecutor Siobhan Linsley said the Christchurch teen was arrested on January 6 at 11.19pm. He made no reply to the caution.

He was asked about looking at news reports of the police investigation, videos filmed at Mr Reeve's home on December 29 and blood found on his trainers, he made no comment.

The teenager was also asked if Mr Reeve had attacked him and he acted in self-defence, he again made no comment, the court heard.

In total he was interviewed four times between January 7 and January 10, after which he phoned his mum for 14 minutes and the call was monitored by police, jurors were told.

Ms Linsley said he was “visibly emotional” after the call and said: “I wish I listened to her and hadn't sat around smoking weed all day.”

He also said: "The truth will come out it won't be as bad as people think".

Ms Linsley said the teenager made a call to a friend on January 19 which was recorded by police.

In it, he said: "There is evidence there, it's kind of ****, I'm not really thinking I'm going to get out but it is what it is.

“But there are things in my favour, when we left he wasn't gone but he obviously weren't alright."

The jury were also played police body worn footage of when they arrested the Bournemouth teen.

Looking surprised, he said "what" when told he is under arrest on suspicion of murdering Mr Reeve, the video showed.

Addressing his dad, he said: “Dad, you remember I was here on New Year’s Eve.”

The jury has previously been shown CCTV footage of the teen in the area of Walkford Stores near Heath Road on New Year’s Eve, as well as in an altercation with a man while on the way to a party.

The Bournemouth teen was interviewed three times by police and answered no comment to all questions.

Later on in the investigation, his solicitor informed police the teenager could not provide the access code to his mobile phone as he could “no longer remember it”, the court heard.

Both boys deny murder. The Christchurch teen admits having a knife, the Bournemouth teen denies the same charge.

The trial continues.