A JUDGE issued a warrant for the arrest of a 16-year-old girl after a Hampshire murder trial ground to a halt yesterday because several witnesses failed to show up.

No evidence could be heard during the entire afternoon session of the prosecution of four people accused of killing Southampton teenager Lewis Singleton.

Adjourning the trial until today, Mr Justice David Steel took the unusual step of issuing a warrant without bail for the arrest of the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who had been due to give evidence during the day.

She had been summonsed to Winchester Crown Court, but when police tried to contact her she had switched her mobile phone off, and there was no answer at her home address.

With the morning session delayed by another witness arriving late, and two others due to give evidence failing to appear, the judge said he wanted to make clear the importance of court proceedings.

"I think it is time word got out that people must respond to calls to give evidence," said Mr Justice Steel.

Earlier, Daniel Hawkins - 18-year-old Lewis' cousin - told the court one of the defendants had accused their pal Craig Smith of being racist shortly before the fatal stabbing.

"He (the defendant) looked like he wanted trouble to me, but when Craig appeared he wasn't on it," said Mr Hawkins.

"Craig had put it to him and he felt stupid."

Mr Hawkins said the situation was diffused, but as they left the defendant "said something like watch' to Craig, which was meant as an implied threat".

Shortly after the episode on the Itchen Bridge, in the early hours of March 31 last year, Lewis and Mr Smith were ambushed in nearby Obelisk Road, Woolston, by a gang who had lain in wait for them.

Rikki Johnson and Sercan Calik , both aged 19, and two youths who cannot be named for legal reasons are accused of being members of the five-strong mob who jumped out of a car to pounce on the friends. While Mr Smith escaped, Lewis was repeatedly stabbed and kicked during the horrifying attack, and died in hospital later that morning.

Johnson, of Honeysuckle Road, Bassett, Sercan, of Burgess Road, Bassett, and the youths aged 16 and 17 all deny charges of murder and violent disorder. A fifth member of the gang was never charged.

Proceeding