Barnsley murder accused fled to London after fatal stabbing, court hears

The court heard how Daniel Varadi was declared dead less than an hour after he was stabbed

A man accused of stabbing a man to death in Barnsley fled to London after the attack took place, a court heard.

Daniel Balazs headed to London after Daniel Varadi was killed with a single stab wound in the South Yorkshire town on 9 August last year.

The 21-year-old turned himself over to police shortly after his arrival in the capital, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Mr Balazs, of Heelis Street, Barnsley, denies murdering the 28-year-old and said he acted in self-defence.

The court heard Mr Varadi had been to boxing training with two family members on the day of his death.

As the trio returned to an address on Newton Street just before 21:00 GMT, they spotted the defendant waiting outside.

Prosecutor David Brooke KC told jurors Mr Balazs whistled at the group and beckoned them over before a fight broke out and Mr Varadi was fatally stabbed.

The court heard Hungarian Mr Varadi was taken to Barnsley hospital but was declared dead at 21:42.

Mr Brooke said the accused had recently found out his former girlfriend, who he had a young child with, had struck up a relationship with the victim in recent months.

The court heard how Mr Varadi and the woman decided to keep it a secret, as they "knew there would be trouble".

However, when Mr Balazs's former girlfriend eventually broke the news to him, he did not react.

The court heard in police interview the defendant said he did not mean to go to the Newton Street address and was actually heading towards his parents' home.

He told officers the three men spotted him and began threatening him, leading him to draw the knife in self-defence.

The trial continues.