A DURRINGTON teenager accused of murder said he did not intentionally stab his victim and would "never in a million years" have wanted to hurt him.
Kai Orgles, 19, of Moore Close, told police he must have "accidentally" killed 26-year-old Syden Pearson in a scuffle and had only been carrying a knife because he was too scared to walk around Durrington without protection.
His murder trial at Lewes Crown Court began yesterday (Monday, June 29) where prosecutor Anthony Evans told the jury Syden was stabbed five times in Shelby Road, Durrington, at around 10.45pm on January 30.
He died in Worthing Hospital just over an hour later.
ArgumentThe court heard how the pair had been at the home of a friend's mother, Susan Ellis, when an argument began.
Orgles lunged at Mrs Ellis and kicked out, cutting her face and scratching her arm.
Mr Evans said Syden's friend then went outside to "usher" away Orgles and his friends.
He said Mrs Ellis remembered seeing Orgles sprint back towards Syden, and punch him "with what appeared to be an upper cut to the stomach".
PunchesMr Evans read extracts of a statement Orgles and his solicitor handed to police following his arrest.
In it, he said: "I only wanted to scare him off, but he kept punching me."
"I never in a million years wanted to hurt Syden."
The trial continues.
See full coverage of the trial in the Worthing Herald on Thursday, July 2.
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