The knife that was allegedly passed between defendants in the Luther Edwards murder trial could in fact have been a box of cigarettes, a court heard.

East London Advertiser: Luther Edwards was stabbed to death in July 2016. Picture source: Edwards familyLuther Edwards was stabbed to death in July 2016. Picture source: Edwards family (Image: Edwards family)

Christopher O’Sullivan, Jerome Osbourne, Kurtis Thomas and Marlon Thomas are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of the July 2016 murder outside York Hall in Bethnal Green and all deny the charge.

There are over 30 CCTV cameras inside and outside York Hall and police said they have spent “hundreds” of hours studying the footage, which captures the busy scenes at the well attended boxing match which took place before Mr Edwards died.

Prosecuting barristers had previously alleged Kurtis Thomas handed Mr O’Sullivan a knife on the steps of York Hall which he subsequently used to stab Mr Edwards, 32, once a brawl had started.

However Kurtis Thomas’ defence have said the glinting object CCTV shows being passed between the two men is in fact a cigarette packet wrapped in cellophane, with Kurtis Thomas inviting Mr O’Sullivan to take one out.

East London Advertiser: Luther Edwards was stabbed to death in July 2016. Picture source: Edwards familyLuther Edwards was stabbed to death in July 2016. Picture source: Edwards family (Image: Edwards family)

Mr O’Sullivan can later be seen lighting it without reaching into his pocket for his own packet, the court heard.

Earlier that night Mr Edwards had texted his partner Emine Ibrahim a picture of her ex-lover Marlon Thomas, who happened to be at the same event, calling him a “little boy”.

“You’re with a man now,” he added. The men can later be seen arguing inside the venue.

The prosecution allege that later that evening Mr Edwards was then obstructed from leaving by Mr Osbourne, who then punched him in the face outside the venue, sparking the brawl in which Mr Edwards lost his life.

He was left lying on the forecourt of a BP garage 50 metres away on the other side of the busy Cambridge Heath Road and died an hour later.

Defence barristers also questioned claims made by the prosecution that Kurtis Thomas could be seen recoiling after punching Mr Edwards, clutching his hand in pain.

They said Kurtis Thomas was in fact readjusting his man bag on his shoulder and was not nursing his hand after landing a punch on Mr Edwards.

The trial continues.