Man denies stabbing dealer in scuffle, court hears

Robert Tyler-Jones died after being wounded with his own knife, a jury has been told

A cannabis user who denies murdering a drug dealer has told a jury how he found himself in a "fight for survival" after being threatened with a knife in his home.

Robert Tyler-Jones, 24, of Northaw, Hertfordshire, was fatally wounded with a kitchen knife he had armed himself with on 23 April.

Kieran Roche, 30, described how he had grappled with Mr Tyler-Jones at his flat in Station Road, Cuffley, Hertfordshire, but he had not stabbed him.

Mr Roche told a trial at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday: "[He] produced a knife from his waistband... it was obviously fight or flight for me."

Mr Roche denies unlawfully killing Mr Tyler-Jones - and has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.

Kieran Roche has given evidence during a murder trial at St Albans Crown Court

Prosecutor Nathan Rasiah KC told the trial how Mr Tyler-Jones sold cannabis to Mr Roche and had joked about robbing him.

Mr Roche told jurors how Mr Tyler-Jones had walked into his flat, through an open door, when he was "rolling a zoot".

Mr Roche said Mr Tyler-Jones had "basically accused" him of stealing cannabis from a female.

"He practically accused me of selling on his turf," Mr Roche added.

"I kind of laughed it off - not taking it seriously.

"Then he told me he had a knife with him and produced it from his waistband.

"He was pointing the knife at me and coming towards me.

"At that point it was obviously fight or flight for me."

Scuffle started

Mr Roche said a scuffle had started and told jurors that it was a "fight for survival in my case".

He said he was "in shock", "in fear" for his life, and "trying to keep the knife as far away" as he could.

Mr Roche said they had both slipped onto the floor and grappled.

He said Mr Tyler-Jones had dropped the knife and left the flat.

"At the time I didn't actually know he had been stabbed," Mr Roche told jurors.

"The motion of going back and forward. The two of our hands has created a force which obviously ended up with him being stabbed."

He added: "I definitely didn't stab him."

Mr Roche said he had later gone out with friends and learned that Mr Tyler-Jones had died the following day.

He added: "I didn't really believe it at the time."

Mr Roche, who said he had known Mr Tyler-Jones for about three years, told jurors that a solicitor had "advised" him to "go no comment" when questioned by police.

The trial continues.