A 14-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of a father who was stabbed to death outside his own home.

James Markham, 45, was attacked in Churchill Terrace, Chingford in northeast London, after confronting a group of teenagers who had verbally abused his daughter and her friend, the Old Bailey heard.

The court was told Mr Markham had returned home at around 6pm on 9 August and went to a shed at the back of his property.

Mr Markham’s daughter then arrived home with a friend after being verbally abused by a “gang of youths” who were shouting and swearing.

He went out to confront the group and was stabbed twice, once under his armpit – the fatal injury – and in the neck, the court heard.

He was pronounced dead at 7.16pm.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared by video link on Tuesday and is charged with murder, possession of a knife in a public place and breach of a criminal behaviour order.

A plea hearing was set for 2 November.

The Metropolitan Police said another 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder has been released under investigation.

A 16-year-old girl was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released while inquiries continue.

Mr Markham was described as “a man with a good heart and good soul” by a family friend, and floral tributes were laid at the scene in his memory.

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