The girlfriend of a 23-year-old man who was stabbed to death at a property in St Osyth says “he had no chance” against his alleged attacker.
Danny Myers, from Enfield, died at an address in Rochford Road in the early hours of March 20 this year, from a knife wound to his heart.
Kevin Paddick, 34, unemployed, of Rosemary Road, in Clacton, has pleaded not guilty to his murder.
In Chelmsford Crown Court today, Mr Myers’ girlfriend, Kelly Luckhurst, 29, said the couple had been living there for about three months.
She told the court Paddick had visited the flat uninvited the day before with his partner, Rachel Kirby.
“It was not a nice atmosphere,” Miss Luckhurst said.
“He would talk so much that he would get on your nerves. Me and Rachel never saw eye-to-eye. She kept showing off and asking me to fight. She was trying to make me look stupid.”
The foursome had gone to buy cigarettes, driven to another friend’s house to drink and then returned to Rochford Road.
Moments after returning, the women started fighting and smashed a glass table.
Paddick and Ms Kirby then allegedly left the flat, while Miss Luckhurst and Mr Myers got ready for bed.
The other couple soon returned though, and the group went into the kitchen.
“Rachel started smoking and wanted to fight me again, so we did. Nothing was said but it was more serious this time. We started fighting and I was getting the better of her.
“Kevin decided to hold me so Rachel could give me a dig. He took hold of my wrists behind my back. She gave me a hit. Danny pulled him off me.”
When Miss Luckhurst turned around, she said she saw Mr Myers lying on the table with the defendant between his legs.
“Kevin reaches over with his left hand to the knife drawer, pulls out a knife and stabs him three times.”
Miss Luckhurst, who broke down while giving evidence, added: “He had no chance.”
Steven Perian QC, defending, asked Miss Luckhurst if she had seen pictures of knives on Mr Myers’ Facebook profile, and pointed to inaccuracies in her police statement.
She replied: “My statement was made on March 20. What day was Danny murdered? My head was not in the right place then.”
The case continues.
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