Sussex murder accused Kaydon Prior was scared during fight, jury told

Harrison Tomkins was stabbed in his bed in his chest, legs and back, the court has heard

A man accused of murdering a lifeguard at his ex-girlfriend's flat has said a fight broke out and he was scared and "trying to get out".

Kaydon Prior, of Three Bridges, West Sussex, is accused of stabbing Harrison Tomkins with a hunting knife in 2023.

The 23-year-old denies murder and manslaughter at Chichester Crown Court.

He said he went to the flat and his ex-girlfriend Alicia Parrin and Mr Tomkins got out of bed, and a fight began with both men reaching for the knife.

Mr Prior is accused of stabbing Mr Tomkins in his bed in his chest, legs and back.

'Just swang at him'

Jurors heard Mr Prior went to the Crawley flat on 13 August with Jason Curtis, 22, to talk to Ms Parrin about an argument they had had.

The court heard she had messaged him "don't ever contact me again", but he said he still believed they were in a relationship, adding: "She always gets angry and says stuff like this."

Mr Prior had been sent a video of Ms Parrin, 21, kissing another man, jurors heard, after which he messaged her and said: "Letting guys kiss you and that... that's absolutely wrong."

He said he did not hear people inside and let himself in with a spare key.

He said after Mr Tomkins, a 25-year-old lifeguard, and Ms Parrin got out of bed both men were throwing punches and reaching for the knife, with Mr Tomkins leaning over him.

"I just swung the knife on the floor just overwards... I just swang at him," Mr Prior said.

Asked by prosecutor Alan Gardner KC if he intended to kill Mr Tomkins because he was in an "angry rage", Mr Prior replied: "No, I was scared, I was frightened. I was just trying to get out of there, I was panicking... I couldn't get him off me."

Asked why he went out of his way to go there after a night out in London and Crawley, he said: "It's not out of my way, I'm not doing anything else. I don't like sleeping on arguments."

The prosecution alleges Mr Curtis, of Lairdale Road, Lambeth, London, assisted and encouraged Mr Prior. Mr Curtis denies murder and manslaughter.

Mr Prior, of Hazelwick Avenue, said: "Jason was nothing to do with anything of this. He should not even be here. He did nothing at all."

The trial continues.