James Christopher Power (34) is accused of going to the home of a man he met while serving time in prison, picking up the alleged victim’s knife and attacking him with it.
Mr Power admitted taking a bag that contained prescription drugs that included painkillers and valium. However, he denies grave and criminal assault.
And giving evidence, the alleged victim said that he did not know who had stabbed him as [the attacker] ‘had a balaclava on’. He also told the court that he did not ‘want a man to go to prison on my behalf’.
Crown Advocate Julian Gollop, prosecuting, told the jury at the start of yesterday’s trial that the pair met in prison and that Mr Power would occasionally visit the alleged victim for a beer at his flat.
On the evening of 16 August the defendant went to the man’s flat and the pair watched television while sitting on the sofa.
Advocate Gollop said that both the bag of medication and two knives – one with a 31cm blade and the other with an 20cm blade – had been in the room.
The court heard that Mr Power asked if he could look at one of the knives. It was said that he thrust it forward three to four times and that the alleged victim told him to be careful. Mr Power was said to have continued, prompting the alleged victim to tell him to ‘take it easy mate’, Advocate Gollop added.
At that point, the prosecution alleges, Mr Power thrust the knife into the inside of the victim’s right thigh, then into the back of his left thigh. He then tried to stab the victim to the side of his chest but the victim blocked the attack it with his hand, and sustained a cut to his forearm, the court was told.
The alleged victim tried to grab Mr Power’s arm, but he pulled out of his grip, and the alleged victim put his hands up to defend himself.
Mr Power allegedly said: ‘Give me your meds now or I will plug you.’
He grabbed the bag and went to leave with the knife, before allegedly saying: ‘If you grass me up you will be killed, trust me.’
The alleged victim used Facebook to ask for someone to call an ambulance before he found a phone and called 999.
Originally he told the States police that he was attacked by a man in a balaclava. Mr Power was alleged to have fled the scene, jumped over the wall of Howard Davis Park, taken the medication out of the bag and dumped it along with the knife.
He was arrested and then interviewed on three occasions, giving conflicting accounts to police. He admitted being at the property, but said that the alleged victim had picked up the knife before the pair were involved in a struggle.
Mr Power then said the alleged victim caused injuries to himself. The court heard that Mr Power initially denied taking the bag of medication before later admitting that he had.
He also argued that the injuries were caused through self defence, but Advocate Gollop said: ‘This is not a case of self defence. The defendant was at all times the aggressor.’
When asked what happened on the night, the alleged victim said: ‘I have not got a clue. I can’t remember what happened an hour ago as I suffer from memory loss.’
And when asked who committed the offences against him, he added: ‘At the time I didn’t know because he had a balaclava on. At no time did I make a statement of complaint to police. I don’t want a man to go to prison on my behalf.’
The Bailiff, Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding. The trial continues.
