A cage fighter from Medway accused of stabbing to death a friend during a cocaine and alcohol binge claims he desperately tried to save the man as he lay dying.

He later told police: "I didn't try and stab him. I didn't go out to do anything. I didn't try to inflict damage... I didn't try to do that!"

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Dennis Jones claims he was confronted by Luke Sullivan who came to his bedroom holding a knife.

He told police: "I started screaming, like, for help because I was like, what the **** is going on?

"He looked really angry but also confused at the same time, like I was just screaming at him to get him out, I'm trying to scream to scare him away."

Jones, 37, of High Street has denied murdering Mr Sullivan, 31, who is from the Isle of Sheppey, during a cocaine and alcohol binge at his flat in November 2019.

In the police interview he told of being confronted by the victim, who he claims was holding a knife.

He said: "I've punched him in the face as I got closer and then he drops the knife.

"We've both scrambled for the knife... I want him to just stop and then we're wrestling on the floor... I've got the knife at this point.

"I'm trying not to stab him or anything like this... I am just trying to just wrestle and get him off me."

Jones then said he punched the victim a second time, who then fell to the floor.

He added: "And at this point I don't know where the knife was. I don't know if it's dropped on the floor... and then I grabbed Luke on the floor and I realised he had a cut and I noticed it started to bleed, like heavily."

Jones said he then tried to stop the bleeding and screamed for help from landlord Ryan Muir and then they called for an ambulance.

Read more from this trial

• Murder suspect told police victim had stabbed himself

• Landlord hesitated dialling 999 after stabbing as people had taken drugs

"I've put my hand and I was pushing him up against a wall to put pressure, 'cos I was trying to stop the bleeding, 'cos I realised what had happened and I was screaming for Ryan, like 'Ryan go and get help, get the phone, call the ******* ambulance," said Jones.

"I was screaming out 'I need help here'."

He told officers he then began doing CPR, adding: "I was covered in blood, like absolutely covered in blood."

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC told jurors: “Shortly after paramedics attended Luke Sullivan was pronounced dead as a result. There is no issue that this defendant caused those stab wounds, it is what occurred at the time that you will wish to concentrate on.

“Police and paramedics went to that address and arrived swiftly and Luke Sullivan was found to have three stab wounds, one fatal, and life was pronounced extinct."

The trial continues.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway