Man fatally stabbed 'yards from his front door'

Kidane Gebrehiwot died of a single stab wound

A man died after being stabbed "yards from his front door", a jury has heard.

On the night of Kidane Gebrehiwot's death, he became involved in a fight with Samwen Muiruri, 32, of Trier Way, Gloucester.

Both men walked home after the incident on 6 August 2023 but Mr Muiruri left his house moments later. A "flurry of activity" was then visible on Mr Gebrehiwot's street.

Mr Gebrehiwot, aged in his 50s, died of a single stab wound. Mr Muiruri appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday after previously pleading not guilty to murder.

Prosecutor Edward Hetherington told the jury he believes Mr Muiruri picked up a knife at his house and then stabbed Mr Gebrehiwot at the junction of Arthur Street and Kings Barton Street.

"Mr Gebrehiwot lived on Arthur Street and was yards from his front door when he was stabbed and collapsed at the scene due to his injuries," Mr Hetherington said.

Despite the "best efforts" of emergency responders and passers-by, he later died in hospital at 02:22 BST.

The court was told a disagreement between the men first broke out due to a woman that both men knew.

This resulted in Mr Gebrehiwot and Mr Muiruri becoming involved in an physical altercation outside an off licence on Eastgate Street, the jury heard.

Emergency services were called to Arthur Street in Gloucester after the attack

"Kidane appears to be the bigger and stronger of the two, he pushes [Muiruri] up against a wall and holds him there," Mr Hetherington said.

Subsequent CCTV footage appeared to show the pair heading back to their respective addresses.

Mr Muiruri was captured on CCTV entering his home address at 00:59 BST, reappearing two minutes later before he "went looking for Kidane", Mr Heatherington said.

A "flurry of activity" was visible on Arthur Street one minute later.

Mr Hetherington told the jury he believes Mr Muiruri went inside to get a knife. A gold blade was later found tangled among Mr Gebrehiwot's clothing and a handle was discovered in a gutter on Kings Barton Street, the court was told.

Mr Muiruri then returned to his home address, but was seen to go back towards Arthur Street before changing his mind and walking back home.

He emerged again at 01:11 BST, when Mr Gebrehiwot was being treated at the junction.

The trial continues.