Man killed by boy, 16, who he feared, trial told

Daniel Ceidi died after being stabbed in central Hatfield in March, the trial was told

A 27-year-old man was stabbed to death during a knife fight with a 16-year-old boy who he was "afraid of", a prosecutor has told a jury.

Daniel Ceidi, 27, died at the scene of the fight in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on Sunday 23 March.

On Wednesday, barrister Neil Moore told a trial at St Albans Crown Court that the teenager held a "grudge" against Mr Ceidi.

The defendant, who is now 17 and cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder, claiming he acted in self defence and did not mean to cause serious harm.

Mr Moore told jurors that both Mr Ceidi, who was 5ft 9in (175cm) tall, and the teenager, who stood at about 6ft (183 cm), lived in Hatfield.

Jurors were told of two encounters on the day of the incident.

Mr Moore said CCTV footage showed how Mr Ceidi and the teenager first crossed paths near a newsagent's shop.

Both were carrying knives when they later fought near The Galleria shopping centre, he added.

Mr Moore said Mr Ceidi picked up a knife from his parents' kitchen.

'Why are you following?'

"[Mr Ceidi] was afraid of the defendant, who he feared was out to get him," Mr Moore told the jury.

"He picked up the knife because he was extremely fearful."

Mr Moore said, "tragically", Mr Ceidi and the teenager had a second encounter at the site of the "old bus station" in Hatfield.

"The defendant acted upon his grudge and stabbed Daniel Ceidi to death," Mr Moore said.

Witnesses heard Mr Ceidi say "Why are you following me?", Mr Moore explained.

He added: "A fight broke out; each man produced their knife."

The court heard Mr Ceidi suffered two stab wounds - in an arm and a fatal wound about 14.5cm deep (5.7in) in the back.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims he acted in self-defence

Mr Moore said the teenager, who suffered a "significant wound" to his right hand, had cycled off and taken the knife he used with him.

The blade was later found, jurors were told.

He said the teenager's mother took him to hospital, where he told doctors he had injured himself cutting trees with a chainsaw.

Judge Jonathan Mann told jurors the trial would last about four weeks.