Luke Tipene death: Accused to return to court

Luke Tipene died after being stabbed outside a Grey Lynn party in November. Photo / supplied

The teen accused of the murder of a budding rugby league star may face trial again as soon as November.

Vincent Angene Skeen, 17, spent two weeks on trial in the High Court at Auckland after the death of 17-year-old Luke Tipene, but a jury could not reach a verdict.

They deliberated for more than a day and a half earlier this month before informing Justice Mark Woolford they could not come to a unanimous or majority agreement.

Today the court set a potential trial date at the start of November.

A back-up fixture in July was also reserved.

The defendant and victim - who were not known to each other before November 1 last year - each arrived in Grey Lynn as partygoers spilled out on to the street in the early hours of the morning.

It is alleged Skeen intervened in what was supposed to be a "one-on-one" brawl between his friend and Mr Tipene's friend - actions to which the upcoming rugby league star took exception.

An ensuing fight between the pair ended with the victim's jugular vein being pierced and he eventually died in hospital.