Man tried to kill his ex flatmate, trial told

Alexander Williams made a desperate attempt to escape from his flat in West Bromwich Road, Walsall, after Tanvir Poselay turned on him and knifed him 'eight or nine times', Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Despite suffering a collapsed lung and other serious injuries, Mr Williams was able to get away and staggered to another flat in his block, where his neighbour then called for an ambulance.

Poselay, aged 26, admits stabbing Mr Williams but denies attempted murder.

A jury heard how the two men knew each other as Poselay used to live in the block of flats before moving out around six months before the attack, which happened on January 8.

Poselay had arrived at Mr Williams' flat at around 8pm and they spent much of the evening together smoking cannabis and watching television.

Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting, told the court Poselay was asked to leave at around 11pm as Mr Williams wanted to go to bed.

Mr Williams then got up and it was at this point he was attacked.

Poselay had left the flat by the time police arrived but was arrested a short time later near his home in Jerome Road, Walsall, attempting to climb onto the garage of a neighbouring house to get away from police officers.

His clothes were also later found burning inside a metal drum in his back garden, the court heard.

As well as a collapsed lung, Mr Williams had air and blood in his other lung and had cuts to his shoulder, back, arms and wrist as a result of the attack.

He lost half a litre of blood and spent a week in hospital.

Poselay denies that he was attempting to kill Mr Williams.

Mr Spratt said: "Our case is that the defendant attempted to murder Alexander Williams, that he had the intention to kill him when he stabbed and slashed at him with that knife."

The trial continues.