Boy in balaclava swung knife 'like a light saber' court told

Mikey Roynon died from a single stab wound at a party in Bath

A teenager swung a knife "like a Star Wars character" before he was fatally stabbed in the neck, a court was told.

Mikey Roynon, 16, from Kingswood, Bristol, was stabbed with a large zombie knife during a house party in Bath on 10 June.

A witness at the party, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he believed Mr Roynon was first to swing a knife, later saying he was "60%" sure.

Three 16-year-olds deny Mr Roynon's murder at Bristol Crown Court.

The jury has been told that trouble flared between Mr Roynon's group and the defendants - who also cannot be named - at a 16th birthday party in a house in Eastfield Avenue in the Weston area of Bath.

The court has been told that both groups were armed with knives.

Around 50 people were at the party when Mr Roynon was stabbed in the garden before collapsing and dying a short time later.

The witness who gave evidence to the trial had travelled to the party along with the defendants.

Around 50 people were at the party when Mr Roynon was stabbed

Giving evidence by video link, they told the court they had run from the house's kitchen into the garden after looking through a window and seeing the group of boys from Bristol holding knives.

Ray Tully KC, acting for a defendant known as Boy A, asked the witness about an interview he had given to police three days after Mr Roynon's death.

The witness agreed he had told officers he had seen Mr Roynon swinging the knife across his own body like a character in the Star Wars films.

Mr Tully asked: "Like a light saber?"

"Yes," the witness replied.

Asked by Mr Tully whether Mr Roynon had been the first to swing a knife, the witness replied: "I believe so."

The witness also agreed that the knife's swing had been directed towards Boy B.

Mr Tully put it to the witness that Boy A's reaction had been to put a knife of his own towards Mr Roynon and then the "knife came in to contact with Mikey's neck".

"Yes," the witness replied.

Mr Tully asked: "And the person who ended up being injured - he started it all?"

"I believe so," the witness replied.

'Wearing a balaclava'

However, questioned later by Christopher Quinlan KC, for the prosecution, the witness agreed the boy who had swung the knife had been wearing a balaclava over his face.

Asked how sure he was that Mikey Roynon was the same boy who had swung the knife, the witness replied: "60%."

After the stabbing, the defendants left the scene and later disposed of their weapons, two of which were recovered by police.

Boy A and Boy B have pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article, which Boy C denies.

The trial continues.