14 Year Old Killed

BY TANANGACHI MFUNI and ALISON GENDAR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Sunday, December 2nd 2007, 4:00 AM
A 14-year-old Brooklyn stabbing victim was killed as he tried to rob another teen with a wooden two-by-four in a neighborhood park, police sources said Saturday.
Cops said Marcell Dawes, 14, swung the plank at another youth during a botched mugging attempt in Kolbert Park on E. 18th St. in Midwood on Friday.
The alleged mugging victim's 15-year-old friend whipped out a 2-inch knife and struck back at Dawes, who died of his wounds at New York Community Hospital about 4:30p.m., police said.
Detectives questioned the 15-year-old stabber early yesterday.
But they let him go because police and investigators from the Brooklyn district attorney's office believe his account that he stabbed Dawes in self-defense, sources said. The teen's name was not released.
Another 15-year-old who was with Dawes and allegedly took part in the mugging was arrested and charged with attempted robbery, police said.
Dawes' mother, a city traffic agent, declined to comment.
Dawes' friends said the circumstances of his death don't jibe with their impression of him. They said the eighth-grader was a sharp dresser who also enjoyed playing basketball.
"He was a humble kid, quiet," said Bennito Sanchez, 34, a doorman at the Ditmas Park building where Marcell's family lives.