Andy Wood murder trial: Elijah Clark claims he was attacked by teen

A picture was shown to the jury of Elijah Clark holding bags of cannabis he was selling

A man accused of stabbing a teenager to death claimed the 16-year-old attacked him with a large knife during an attempted robbery, a court heard.

Elijah Clark, 20, said Andy Wood ambushed him when they met for a drug deal in Chelmsford on 12 February 2023.

Mr Wood died in hospital after a stab wound to his neck caused "uncontrollable bleeding".

Mr Clark, of Gloucester Avenue in the city, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and denies murder.

Giving evidence earlier, the defendant said the pair met at a wooded area of a park in Waterson Vale so Mr Clark could purchase cannabis from Mr Wood.

However, he told the jury that upon his arrival he was set upon by Mr Wood and another man who demanded he handed over his money.

"Then he lunged at me with the knife. I've moved out the way before he's managed to stab me with it - but he's come immediately straight back," Mr Clark said.

Andy Wood has been described by the prosecutor as a "bit of a hippy who loved skateboarding"

The defendant alleged that he was stabbed and knocked to the floor during a scuffle before Mr Wood, who was from Braintree, confronted him with a second, larger blade.

'Split-second decision'

Mr Clark told the court that he disarmed the second man and "jabbed" the knife towards Mr Wood.

"It all happened so quickly and it was a split-second decision. Andy was still lunging towards me with the knife and I just wanted him to back away.

"I put the knife in the direction of Andy and I felt it connect and the other male ran off and so I ran away."

Mr Clark told the court he threw the "military style" knife, which has never been found, down a drain as he ran home, where he was later arrested.

Andy Wood collapsed not far from where he was allegedly stabbed in Waterson Vale, Chelmsford

During cross-examination, he admitted he dealt cannabis in Chelmsford but said he had never heard of Mr Wood until he attempted to buy the Class B drug from him.

Christopher Paxton KC, prosecuting, previously disputed this and said Mr Clark saw Mr Wood as an "interloper" encroaching on his patch and wanted to "demonstrate his authority".

"We suggest [Mr Clark] saw himself as something of a drug dealer with a status and a standing he was keen to record," said Mr Paxton.

Mr Clark denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. He has also pleaded not guilty to having a bladed article and the assault occasioning actual bodily harm of Mr Wood's friend.

The trial continues.

Elijah Clark and Andy Wood met at a park in Waterson Vale, Chelmsford, for the drug deal, the court heard