Victim walked on to knife, murder accused claims

The trial is being held at Gloucester Crown Court

A man accused of murdering his friend claimed the victim died accidentally after he "walked on to" a knife being used to cut cannabis, a court has heard.

Michael Beach, 46, of Ruspidge Road in Cinderford denies murdering Scott Hopkins, 36, on 8 December in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

Jurors heard on Monday that when paramedics arrived to treat Mr Hopkins they found him "swimming in blood".

Mr Beach is alleged to have told paramedics "I've killed him" adding there had been an argument, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

Mr Hopkins and Mr Beach, along with another mutual friend, had been out drinking at the Upper Bilson Inn in Cinderford before returning to their friend's flat nearby at about 22:00 GMT for more socialising, the court heard.

Prosecutor Richard Posner said the Crown did not accept Mr Beach's claim he stabbed his friend in the chest by accident.

Mr Posner said: "Mr Beach claims that when he went into the kitchen he was followed by Mr Hopkins.

"He alleges he picked up a kitchen knife to chop up his cannabis but when he turned around Mr Hopkins walked straight into the knife he was holding."

Mr Posner said Beach continues to claim that what happened was an accident.

'Intended serious harm'

He said: "The evidence suggests that he [Mr Beach] wasn't telling the truth about what really happened in that kitchen.

"It is the prosecution's case that Mr Beach used the knife as a weapon.

"He is accused of murdering Mr Hopkins, having stabbed him in the chest with a large kitchen knife and by doing so he intended to cause him at the very least serious harm.

"That intention caused Mr Hopkins to die."

The men's mutual friend, Phillip Parry, whose flat they were in, called emergency services reporting that Mr Hopkins was unconscious.

He then performed CPR while Mr Beach went outside to flag down an ambulance.

Prosecutor Posner said paramedics found a nine centimetre deep stab wound that had caught Mr Hopkin's heart and lung.

The paramedics stopped performing CPR at 23:00 and Mr Hopkins was declared dead a short while later.

The trial continues.