I had knife because I was scared, says murder accused
A father-of-one told a jury in his murder trial that a man had become impaled on the knife he had been holding after he 'come at him'.
Daniel Allott said he had picked up the knife because he had been 'scared for his life' after seeing a group of people - some carrying weapons - outside a flat in Whitemill Lane, Stone, and his cousin engaged in a fight.
Allott is standing trial at Stafford Crown Court accused of murdering 23-year-old Connan McLeod on April 12.
The court previously heard that Mr McLeod was fatally stabbed in the chest after a fight with Allott's cousin Nicholas Cooper in the street.
Taking the witness stand yesterday, Allott said that he picked up the knife from the kitchen of a flat in Whitemill Lane, where he had been attending a party, to scare the group outside away.
The 27-year-old said he walked outside and started swinging the knife around, but had not intended to kill or seriously harm anyone.
He said: "After shouting I've got a knife, I will use it, next minute Connan's come at me and the knife went into him."
He said he realised something was wrong when people started 'screaming and shouting' but told the jury he thought the knife had gone into Mr McLeod's arm.
He said he left the scene because he panicked and was in shock.
Allott, who has a five-year-old son, was arrested after presenting himself at Burton police station on April 13.
He said: "I didn't want to go on the run. I wanted to put my side of the story."
The jury was told Allott has previous convictions for assault, wounding and affray.
Allott, of Bagots Oak, Stafford, denies murder.
The trial continues.
