A 30-year-old hod carrier - on trial for murder - has told a jury that the man who carried out the killing was his best friend Jack McCann.

Jamie Simmons, 29, was killed following an "altercation" in Cambridge Crescent in Shepway, Maidstone .

Kieran Nicholson, was asked if he had stabbed Jamie Simmons to death and replied: "No way, no way."

Nicholson - who denies murder - said he was "shocked and angry" when he saw Mr McCann giving his evidence at the trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

He said: "I thought he would admit it."

Mr McCann has denied a suggestion that he and not Nicholson had carried out the murderous attack in Shepway in May.

And the partner of the dead man, Charlotte Muddiman has also alleged that Nicholson was the knife man who killed her lover.

'Quick they're fighting, quick they're fighting...'

Nicholson claimed that McCann was "a serious drinker who drinks pink gin and Strongbow dark fruit cider every day."

He said that on the day of the killing he went to Cambridge Crescent to the home of friend Tara Cooper.

After Nicholson and Mr McCann arrived an argument broke out after Ms Muddiman believed she had been insulted by Mr McCann - Mr McCann was punched and headbutted by Mr Simmons.

Nicholson said he was using Ms Cooper's toilet when he heard her voice saying: "Quick they're fighting, quick they're fighting."

"I came out and saw Jamie and Jack wrestling, grappling. I walked down and got in the middle.

"Jamie whacked Jack with a left punch. I seen (sic) blood dripping from Jack's face.

"Jack turned round and walked back to the flat and picked up a scooter. He looked like he was going to use it but he didn't do anything with it.

"Jack walked up to the kitchen and there was banging on the door about 30 seconds later. I could hear the voices of Jamie and Charlotte (Muddiman) outside.

"I opened the door and they came in. Ms Muddiman was shouting at Tara for having me and Jack around.

"She said to Tara 'Why are you having those two scumbags round?'. Tara was shouting for her to get out.

'He looked like he had seen a ghost...'

"Jamie and Jack were having words in the hallway. Jamie was shouting: 'You're out of order. You're a *****'. Jack was saying: 'I didn't mean it like that, mush'

"Jamie and Jack then started walking towards the kitchen."

He added: "I walked towards the kitchen and Jamie came out holding his chest. I could see blood on his chest.

"Jack was still in the kitchen. He looked like he had seen a ghost. His face was covered in blood.

"Down in front of him was the knife. Jack was just stood there and froze. I picked the knife up and asked Jack: 'Who stabbed who? What's happened?'

'It was Jack McCann...'

"He wouldn't speak, he wouldn't say a word. I was asking Jamie: 'Who's stabbed who?' but he didn't say anything. I said again: 'Who has ******* stabbed who?'", he claimed.

His barrister Cairns Nelson QC asked: "Did you see anyone being stabbed that night?"

Nicholson replied: "No."

Mr Nelson: "Then who must have stabbed Mr Simmons?"

Nicolson replied: "It was Jack McCann."

The trial continues.

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