Court told witnesses tried to save Wymondham teen Raymond James Quigley after he was stabbed in Westgate Street, Ipswich

Two women have told a court how they tried to save the life of an 18-year-old who was stabbed in Ipswich earlier this year.

A trial at Ipswich Crown Court into the alleged murder of Raymond James Quigley – better known as James – from Wymondham, who was stabbed to death in Westgate Street on January 17, has entered its second week.

Alfie Hammett, 19, of Larkhill Rise, Rushmere St Andrew and Joshua Howell, 18, of Wellington Street, Ipswich, are accused of his murder.

This morning, Ipswich Crown Court heard how Lasharne Beaton met with her friend Jordane Challenger-Thomson at the Starbucks, in Westgate Street, just before the attack.

They spotted a man running with a knife outside the coffee shop, and saw another person heading into Cards Direct.

In a recorded interview taken three hours after the incident, Ms Beaton told officers she was concerned someone was trying to rob the till at the card shop as a person was seen leaning over the counter.

It wasn’t until the person, identified as Mr Quigley, collapsed and fell to the floor that she realised he was injured.

The court heard how both Ms Beaton and Ms Challenger-Thomson rushed to help the victim.

Mr Quigley was unconscious and not breathing when they found him – but he did let out ‘a big gasp'.

He was also unable to speak.

Ms Beaton told officers how she cut away Mr Quigley's top to discover his wounds.

She said: “My initial instinct was to help the poor boy.

"My friend ran over to Cards Direct to ask if he was okay.

"An employee in the shop said he had been stabbed.

"There was blood coming out of his right side – I asked for a towel to help prevent the blood from coming out. I thought the boy had stopped breathing and so I tried to look for a pulse and he stopped responding."

Bandages were applied to his wounds and those present tried to stop the bleeding, the court heard.

Ms Beaton said: "I tried talking to him to see if he would respond. Things were not looking good.

“I kept applying pressure to the wound while my friend did CPR and the ambulance took over once they arrived.”

Ms Beaton said one of the alleged culprits was wielding a machete.

Ms Challenger-Thomson said Mr Quigley hit his head when he fell to the floor, and that he had tried to take his jacket off.

She said town rangers came to their aid.

Mr Quigley died shortly after paramedics arrived, the court heard.

Another witness – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said the alleged stabbing happened ‘right in front of their very eyes’.

During a recorded interview to officers, also taken on January 17, they told officers the attack took place outside Debenhams, and said it involved about five males.

The suspected attackers pushed Mr Quigley to the floor before stabbing him, they said.

“I ran into H Samuels… I was crying and scared they were going to come back,” they told officers.

“I don’t know if they ambushed him or whether the incident was planned.. but they know they wanted to do it.”

Another witness – who also cannot be named – alerted the police by dialling 999.

The trial continues.