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Josh Price murder trial: Old school pal 'was stabbed to death over cannabis deal'

A 21-year-old man watched a former schoolmate being stabbed through the heart while thinking the victim was being punched, a jury heard.

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Jake Henson told Wolverhampton Crown Court how his friend David Watkins, aged 27, attacked Josh Price when a cannabis deal went wrong.

Henson, who, like the 21-year-old drug dealer, went to the city's Moseley Park School, explained: "They were about 15 feet away from me. Josh passed him the weed. David put it in his pocket, then punched him.

"Josh fell to the ground and David punched him some more while he was still on the floor. I didn't realise he was stabbing him. I didn't see no knife. I didn't do anything to stop it. I was shocked. I froze."

Henson said when he and Watkins had ridden a short distance from the scene in Treynham Close, Stowlawn, the other man ordered him to go back to collect Mr Price's mobile phone on which the drug deal had been arranged.

"If I said no I didn't know what he would do to me," said the defendant.

"I got off my bike. Josh Price wasn't moving. I thought he was knocked out.

"I put my hand in his trouser pockets until I felt a phone and grabbed it. His right pocket felt wet. When I pulled my hand out it had blood all over it. I asked David what he had done. He said he had stabbed him and showed me the knife. He had it up his right sleeve. It was a kitchen knife."

Henson said the pair, who left the victim bleeding to death, rode to a nearby canal where the knife, phone and their bikes were thrown into the water.

Josh Price was stabbed five time, once through the heart, during the fatal attack on the evening of September 27, 2014 and was certified dead at the scene.

Henson claimed Watkins warned 'the same would happen' to him if he revealed what had happened but over a month later he broke his silence to his mother.

She told him to inform police but had to do so herself when he refused.

Henson from Wellington Road, Bilston was arrested the following day while Watkins of Clem Attlee Court, Park View Road, Stowlawn was detained a short time later.

He told the jury that he stabbed the drug dealer after 'voices in his head' told him to rob the man.

Both defendants deny murder and the case continues.

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