CCTV shows drug dealer stumbling after stabbing

Robert Tyler-Jones was seen clutching his side as he ran away from Kieran Roche's flat

Footage of a cannabis dealer running from the scene of an altercation after being stabbed three times has been shown to a murder trial jury.

Robert Tyler-Jones, 24, died about 90 minutes after he was fatally wounded by Kieran Roche, the trial at St Albans Crown Court has heard.

The CCTV footage showed Mr Tyler-Jones, of Northaw, Hertfordshire, stumbling down a staircase outside Mr Roche's flat, then running and holding his side.

Mr Roche, 30, of Station Road, Cuffley, Hertfordshire, denies unlawfully killing Mr Tyler-Jones on 23 April - and has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.

Jurors heard how Mr Roche bought cannabis from Mr Tyler-Jones.

Prosecutor Nathan Rasiah KC said Mr Tyler-Jones had told a friend that Mr Roche had stolen two bags of cannabis from a female.

He bought one bag for £700, wanted to buy the second, and had joked about robbing Mr Roche, Mr Rasiah added.

Mr Tyler-Jones had gone to Mr Roche's flat with a kitchen knife in his waistband - and had been stabbed in the chest and abdomen area with that knife.

Kieran Roche is on trial at St Albans Crown Court

Mr Rasiah said Mr Tyler-Jones was committing an offence in taking the knife to Mr Roche's address - and Mr Roche had the right to defend himself.

But Mr Rasiah said the question was whether Mr Roche needed to defend himself once he had the weapon.

Blood-stained knife

Footage showed Mr Tyler-Jones, who previously lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, getting into a car outside his home, armed with a knife.

Jurors were told he had then driven to Mr Roche's flat - a journey of about five minutes.

A CCTV camera also captured Mr Tyler-Jones walking up a staircase towards Mr Roche's flat.

He was seen descending the stairs about three minutes later. Mr Rasiah said Mr Tyler-Jones had driven home and called paramedics.

Jurors were told that he died less than two hours after being stabbed.

Police had found a blood-stained kitchen knife with a 23.5cm (about nine inches) long blade in the flat.

Mr Rasiah said there was an 11.5cm (more than four inches) blood stain on the weapon. Police also found cannabis with a street value of more than £4,000 in Mr Roche's flat.

Jurors were told that Mr Roche gave ''no comment'' answers when questioned by police.

The trial continues.