Jury retires in murder trial after Northfleet dad James Green stabbed to death
The jury in the trial of two teenagers accused of murdering
Northfleet father-of-five James Green will resume its deliberations
today.
The seven women and four men - one juror was discharged earlier
in the court proceedings - were sent home by Judge Jeremy Carey
just after 4pm on Monday.
They had been considering their verdicts at Maidstone Crown
Court for about two hours.
It is alleged 19-year-old Tommy Presley, of Bankside,
Northfleet, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified for legal
reasons, murdered Mr Green on June 21.
The 29-year-old suffered three knife wounds during the attack at
his home in Holly Court.
Presley has admitted stabbing Mr Green, but claims he was acting
in lawful self-defence and used Mr Green's own knife.
His co-accused, from Gravesend, admitted being in the vicinity
but claimed he was not involved.
At the start of the trial three weeks ago, prosecutor Andrew
Espley said Mr Green had fallen foul of youths on The Hive estate
and been branded a "grass".
Giving evidence on what was his 19th birthday, Presley told the
jury he stabbed Mr Green because he feared for his own life.
He claimed Mr Green pulled a knife from his trouser waistband
and brandished it in his face and throat.
James Green was stabbed
at his home in Holly Court, Northfleet
A knife was later found under a bush in nearby Kingston Court.
But the prosecution claim it is too large to be the murder weapon
and that Presley was armed with another knife when he confronted Mr
Green at his home just after 10.45pm.
The 17-year-old chose not to give evidence.
However, a neighbour of Mr Green's had earlier told the court
she heard the youth "roar" at Presley after the stabbing: "What
have you just done?"
The trial continues.
17/12/12
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