James Christopher Power (33) is accused of attacking the man – stabbing him in both thighs and the forearm – after they had been drinking at the alleged victim’s flat. He is standing trial on one count of grave and criminal assault.
Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Power said the man started to get mad after they spoke about a previous incident involving the alleged theft of a mobile phone. The defendant told the court that the man said to him: ‘I should have finished you off years ago.’
Mr Power said the man became aggressive and that following a struggle, he left the flat with a bag of prescription medicine, claiming he had been owed some tablets.
When questioned by Advocate Francesca Pinel, defending, he said the alleged victim may have sustained his injuries during the struggle.
When asked if he intentionally caused the injuries, Mr Power replied: ‘No.’
Earlier in the trial at the Royal Court, the jury were told how Mr Power had been drinking with the alleged victim at his flat as they knew each other from their time together in prison.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Power took a knife that was on the table in the flat and stabbed the victim, before stealing his bag of medication.
The court heard how Mr Power had previously admitted a charge of theft for taking the bag, but denies the stabbing.
Two statements Mr Power gave to the police were read out in court, in which the defendant said the man ‘switched on him’ after taking valium tablets and held a knife to his chin.
In one of the statements, Mr Power said: ‘He switched on me, I don’t know if it was because of the mobile phone. Then he had the knife.’
Mr Power alleges that a struggle ensued and he managed to grab the knife but cut his hand in the process.
He said he ran away, jumping over the wall of Howard Davis Park before burying the knife in the soil.
He described the alleged victim as ‘pure evil,’ and ‘an old-school Jersey bully,’ adding: ‘He was going to kill me and stab me, to be honest. I thought, “I am getting out of here, I am not getting stabbed”.’
The Bailiff, Timothy Le Cocq, is presiding. The trial continues.
