Gareth Hart death: Man 'tried to bite my ear off', murder accused tells jury

Gareth Hart, 43, died after he was stabbed during an altercation in Ingoldmells in April

A man accused of a fatal stabbing has told jurors he lashed out with a pen-knife after being repeatedly punched by a man who tried to bite off his ear.

Gareth Hart, 43, from Barnsley, died near the Fantasy Island amusement park in Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, in April after being stabbed in the heart.

Joseph Malek, 33, from Belper, Derbyshire, denies Mr Hart's murder.

Giving evidence at Lincoln Crown Court, Mr Malek said Mr Hart attacked him after being aggressive towards a woman.

Jurors heard on Tuesday that police were called to an altercation near a takeaway in Ingoldmells at about 01:00 BST on 6 April.

Mr Malek said earlier he had been outside the takeaway when he overheard Mr Hart and a woman "getting angry with each other" after Mr Hart made a sexual remark about her dog.

He said he had "told Mr Hart to chill because she was a woman".

"He looked angry. I didn't know if he was going to hit her, so I thought I'd better say something," he said.

The defendant told the jury that Mr Hart responded by swearing at him while a young child was present.

"He just instantly punched me in the temple. It sent me flying backwards and I felt dizzy," Mr Malek said.

"I was scared, so for some reason I pulled out my pen-knife.

"I pointed it down to the ground. It was closed, but I opened it as I got it out of my bag."

The car park in Ingoldmells was cordoned off after the fatal stabbing near Fantasy Island on 6 April

Mr Malek said he tried to reason with Mr Hart, but was repeatedly punched in the head by him.

"He tried to bite my ear off. That's why I started lashing out with the pen-knife," Mr Malek said.

"I just wanted him to get off me. I was terrified."

He said he later became aware of being pinned down and released the knife to another man.

The court heard Mr Malek was staying at the Butlins holiday camp to help look after his nephew.

He kept the pen-knife in his bag, along with a number of other everyday items, he said.

Defence barrister Gordon Aspden KC asked Mr Malek: "Is it your intention to stab anyone with that knife when you go out?"

"Never," replied Mr Malek.

Jurors heard both men had previous criminal convictions.

The trial continues.