'Store boss hacked to death with sword'

A conscientious sports store manager was hacked to death in his own shop with a samurai sword after being betrayed by a fellow employee, the Old Bailey heard today.

Two masked men burst in just as he was closing up, acting on information provided by their getaway driver, the court heard.

Had it not been for his sense of duty the victim would not have been at work as he had felt ill and came in due to staff shortages.

For £4,000 in cash and £4,000 in store vouchers the raiders left assistant manager Carlton Maxwell-Clarke bleeding to death.

At least one of the raiders was "elated" and "happy and laughing at what they had done," the court heard.

The raid was carried out last December on the JJB sports store in Alpine Way, Beckton. Mark Dennis, prosecuting, said planning was provided by Tabrez Akhtar, 19, a sales assistant.

Akhtar, 19, of East Ham, Mohamed Rafiq, 23, of West London, and Mohamed Malik, 19, of Hounslow, have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to rob and murder.

The case continues.