Man accused of murder told jury "I was fighting for my life" during knife battle in street

Mohamed Rahman, 43, is on trial for murdering Alan Stokoe, 26, during a knife fight outside of the home of Laura McGee, who they had both had relationships with.

Mr Stokoe died from a wound that went through his neck and severed his carotid artery and jugular vein.

Prosecutors claim after the murder, Rahman concocted a "pack of lies" to try and get himself out of trouble and put the blame on Mr Stokoe.

Rahman, of Eamont Gardens, Hartlepool, denies murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and is being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.

Speaking from the witness box, Rahman, who was also stabbed during the violence, said he came out of Miss McGee's house with a knife to deter and scare Mr Stokoe, who he claimed had issued threats.

Rahman told jurors had had not wanted to fight and added: "That would be insane, a knife fight, I know that's what the prosecution are trying to say, that we've arranged a knife fight, no."

Rahman, who said he feared he was about to die, said when Mr Stokoe fell to the ground and appeared to be badly injured: "I just saw my whole world just shatter right in front of me."

The court heard Rahman had been visiting Miss McGee's home at Melville Street, Chester le Street, last July and he said Mr Stokoe had called up and made threats by phone.

Rahman said he took a kitchen knife outside the house as a deterrent and had been "unwilling" to engage in the fatal clash.

During questioning through his barrister Kirsty Brimelow QC, Rahman told jurors Mr Stokoe had made an "aggressive noise" as he ran towards him, "like a charging noise".

Rahman said he had told Mr Stokoe to "drop the knife or **** off" but added: "He didn't pause, he just carried on.

"All I knew was I didn't want him getting anywhere close to me. Every time I was moving back he was barging into me, pushing, that knife was just coming.

"I was clearly showing him the knife I've got and he's just pushing and pushing.

"I was trying to keep a safe distance.

"I was trying to move as fast as I could, backwards and make sure I didn't get stabbed.

"He was barging into me, driving into me, driving me up that hill."

Rahman said he told Mr Stokoe 'give up, stop it, you win' during the clash and added; "He was throwing me all over the place, he's got the knife, I know I've been stabbed. He had me in a headlock as well.

"I thought I was going to die at any second.

"I thought any second he's going to put that knife through me.

"I wasn't thinking about who had the upper hand or anything like that, all I was thinking is this is where I'm going to die and he's going to end up killing Laura as well."

Rahman said it was while he was in the headlock position he pushed out to get Mr Stokoe off him.

He told jurors: "I totally forget the knife was in my hand, all I wanted was to push him off me, get him off me."

Rahman said he was convinced "I would have been dead" if he hadn't fought back and added: "I was fighting for my life.

"I was disorientated by then, all I wanted to do was make that space between me and him.

"I needed just to push him off me, that's all I needed to do."

Rahman said he saw the knife Mr Stokoe had been carrying "roll" out of his hand and he started to stagger.

He added: "I thought I'm going to probably have to catch him but as I was moving he just hit the floor.

"I just saw my whole world just shatter right in front of me."

Rahman said he went back into the house as he feared there may be "someone there to come and finish the job off" on him and an ambulance was called.

He told jurors what happened afterwards was "all hazy" and "my head just exploded".

Rahman said he made no real attempt to give Mr Stokoe First Aid as he "wouldn't have known what to do" and ended up in "excruciating" pain himself as a result of his stab wounds.

Rahman said he had no intention to cause serious harm and added: "Even though I'm standing there with a knife I had no intention of using it, it was more to scare him, deter him, slow him down while the police came.

"I thought the worst scenario the police will come and they will catch him in the act."

He added: "I didn't want to engage with that man in any way.

"The fact that someone is now dead because of what happened, I am sorry for what's happened."

The trial continues.

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