POLICE investigators followed a trail of blood which led them to several knives hidden in bushes after a double stabbing in a St Saviour housing estate, the Royal Court heard yesterday.
Robert Adrian Canavan (30) has pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault as well as possessing offensive weapons – two knives – at Wellington Park Estate during an altercation on 3 September last year in relation to an alleged drug dispute.
Although he has admitted the offences, a Newton hearing is now being held to determine disputed facts in the case.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, said: “The Crown say that the defendant came to the fight with his own knives… The defendant says that he did not come back to that fight with any knives.
“He says [the victim] had the knife. [The victim] used the knife to cut him in his face. The defendant says he picked those knives up and used them to stab [the victim].”
She added that it might not be possible to determine who delivered the first blow – but that both used their knives.
“They didn’t have to but they did,” she said.
Advocate Hall said knives had been found at the scene and both men had suffered stab wounds.
A small silver knife and a large silver knife had both been found behind a granite wall.
A black handle for a knife and a rose gold-coloured blade were also found nearby.
The court heard that investigators followed a trail of blood down the street, which led them to some of the weapons.
During the altercation, Canavan suffered injuries to his face, including a 14cm stab wound to the left side of his face, the court heard.
The other man had injuries to his abdomen – including a stab wound to his liver, which required surgery.
Advocate Hall said a fight between Canavan and his victim had broken out as a result of a drugs dispute.
“They ended up having two fights during the day,” she said.
She said a number of SMS and Facebook messages between the two would be used in the case to show how Canavan became more aggressive during the day.
The court heard from witnesses living in the area, who told the court how they had watched the altercation.
One neighbour recalled how during the argument, a metallic object had been thrown into a bush.
Another later saw the men running away from Wellington Park Estate towards Wellington Road and De La Salle College.
The court was played a 999 call during which Canavan asked for an ambulance for himself, but refusing to say who had stabbed him.
They also saw bodyworn camera footage of Canavan with blood coming out of his face.
Advocate Olaf Blakeley is defending.
Commissioner Sir William Bailhache is presiding, with Jurats Kim Averty and Gareth Hughes sitting.
The hearing continues.
