Darren Parker murder trial: Jury due to go out as judge finishes summing up evidence over father's stabbing

Darren Parker, who was 43, was killed after being knifed twice in the heart by 19-year-old Demarco Martin at the defendant's address at Campville Crescent in Stone Cross, West Bromwich.

The prosecution case is that Mr Parker attended the property on April 6 with his step-son Sean Varden to make enquiries about Mr Varden's stolen TV.

Martin allegedly launched an attack on the pair first stabbing Mr Varden in the chest before inflicting fatal wounds to Mr Parker who had stepped in to defend him.

The teenager has claimed that he was only acting in self-defence after the two men burst through the door and immediately floored another man at the property.

He has denied charges of murder and attempted murder.

Yesterday lawyers made their closing statements to the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Prosecutor Richard Atkins QC said: "These were deliberate actions of a man armed with a knife against two unarmed men, first injuring one and fatally injuring another. That can't be said to be in self defence.

"It is so wholly over the top and grossly disproportionate that you, the jury, will have little difficulty rejecting the suggestion of self defence." But Richard Carey-Hughes QC, defending Martin, painted a different picture of events.

He argued Mr Parker and Mr Varden had gone to the defendant's address believing he had stolen the television and seeking revenge.

The barrister said: "Demarco Martin was dozing peacefully in his home lazily minding his own business.

"He had no desire to hurt anybody or to kill them and in a matter of what must have been a short few seconds as a direct result of actions which had nothing to do with him, he had become a killer.

"And he will have to live with that for the rest of his life."

The jury is expected to be sent out today to deliberate and reach a verdict.