Best pal was killer - claim

A stab victim from West Bromwich used to be "best friends" with the man accused of killing him, a court heard.

Father-to-be Thomas Coombs, pictured, from Beacon View Road in Stone Cross, died aged 20 after being stabbed six times in a street brawl.

Christopher Szymanski, aged 21, also of Beacon View Road, denies murder.

The jury at at Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday that Mr Coombs, who was also known as Thomas Duffield or 'Duffy' to his friends, may have been killed with his own knife and had started the fight with Szymanski.

The fight broke out just before 11pm on July 10 on the corner of Bustleholme Avenue and Bustleholme Lane, Charlemont Farm estate.

His girlfriend Stephanie Ball gave birth to their first child just months after his death.

Father-of-two Szymanski was close friends with Mr Coombs but they had fallen out following an argument between their respective girlfriends four days before the tragedy, the court heard.

Mr John Burrows, prosecuting, said Szymanski repeatedly stabbed Thomas Coombs, five of the wounds puncturing vital organs.

The defendant had left home with a mutual friend, Warren Perry, to walk to Spar at about 10.45pm but they were followed up Bustleholme Avenue by Thomas Coombs, he said.

"Thomas Coombs followed them and shouted to the defendant that he had heard the defendant wanted to fight him," he said.

He added: "The prosecution recognises that it may be Thomas Coombs who took the knife to the scene.

"But the defendant willingly took part in this fight and even if it were Thomas Coombs who brought the knife the defendant must have quickly disarmed him and repeatedly used it."

The trial continues.