A SUFFOLK man stabbed his former brother-in-law in the neck and thigh while telling him that he was going to kill him, it has been alleged.

Jane Hunt

A SUFFOLK man stabbed his former brother-in-law in the neck and thigh while telling him that he was going to kill him, it has been alleged.

Lee Brown answered the door to his Sudbury flat to be confronted by his former partner's brother Stephen Oliver, who was allegedly armed with a lock knife, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, alleged that Oliver had attacked Mr Brown with the knife telling him, “I'm going to kill you” and warning him “not to mess” with his family.

Mr Brown tried to protect himself but during the struggle that followed outside his flat he suffered a stab wound to the back of his neck and two wounds to his thigh measuring 2.5cm and 5cm deep.

Oliver was eventually disarmed and Mr Brown had taken his revenge by giving Oliver a black eye, said Mr Gair.

He said that prior to the attack on Mr Brown, Oliver had slashed the tyres on his van which was parked outside his flat.

Oliver, 40, of Folly Road, Great Waldingfield, has denied attempting to murder Mr Brown on July 31 last year and an alternative less serious charge of wounding him with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. The court has heard that he has admitted damaging Mr Brown's van.

Giving evidence Mr Brown, a plasterer, said he had children with Oliver's sister but the relationship had ended several years ago.

He said that immediately he answered his front door Oliver had lunged at him with a knife with a four inch blade.

He said Oliver had said he was going to kill him and in addition to wounds to his neck and thigh he also suffered slash marks on his hands.

He said that he had tried to disarm Oliver and at one stage had backed him against his van and was restraining him with one hand and holding the wrist of the hand with the knife with the other.

“He was like a wild man,” said Mr Brown.

He accepted he had head-butted Oliver seven times while had had him pinned against his van.

Cross-examined by defence counsel Matthew McNiff Mr Brown denied that he had gone outside armed with a knife after seeing Oliver damaging his van.

The trial continues today (Tues).