He claims he didn't mean to kill 12-year-old Ava White.
The teenage boy who allegedly stabbed Ava White said he just wanted to frighten her.
The 14-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is on trial for the 12-year-old's murder.
Ava died after she was stabbed in the neck last November.
She was attending a Christmas event in Liverpool with her friends when the attack took place.
Speaking via videolink, the suspect told Liverpool Crown Court he didn't intend on killing her.
According to
Sky News, he said: "I promise, I didn't mean to hurt her."
He told the jury he was afraid the 12-year-old girl would "jump him".
"I was trying to get away because I was scared," he confessed.
It is believed the boy and Ava got into an argument after she caught him filming her at the event.
She confronted the boy and told him to delete the footage.
According to the boy, Ava said, "Shall we jump him now cause I feel like it?"
He claims he used the knife in self-defense.
The youth also told the court that he only wanted to "frighten her away" but didn't mean to harm her.
After stabbing Ava, he fled the scene because he didn't realise he hurt the schoolgirl.
Ava White died from a stab injury to the neck.
She was laid to rest just days before Christmas 2021.
The boy has denied both murder and manslaughter.
The trial continues.
