Teen claims drug dealer 'lunged' before fatal blow

A teenage boy accused of murdering a drug dealer during a robbery claims he acted in self-defence, and "did not mean to" thrust the knife into the man's chest.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, is accused of fatally stabbing Hamid Erfani, 46, in Larput Place, Cheltenham, on 16 December last year.

The boy and another teenager previously admitted to cornering Erfani in the alleyway, before demanding he hand over his cash, drugs and a mobile phone.

The defence claims that once the robbery was over, the victim "lunged" forward and the boy "instinctively" punched him, mistakenly using the hand which held the knife.

Anna Vigars KC, prosecuting, said there was no evidence to suggest Erfani knew the defendant, but it was likely the defendant knew Erfani was involved in dealing drugs and so "hatched a plan" to rob him.

The alleyway was not covered by CCTV, but the prosecution said witnesses confirmed the pair "cornered" Erfani, known as Mo, and both produced large knives.

"Unsurprisingly", Erfani did not resist, Vigars KC said.

"Imagine the relief when you think it's over. You've lost your drugs etc, but you're unharmed. They've got what they wanted," she continued.

"Why on earth at that point would he begin to fight back? It doesn't make any sense. It's not logical."

The prosecution also pointed to a recorded conversation between the boy and his mother in which he denied it was self-defence - though he did add "I didn't mean to".

The trial at Bristol Crown Court earlier heard how the defendant had "quickly become embroiled in the drug scene" at a young age and often carried a knife for protection.

"What happened was completely opportunistic," said Charles Rowe KC, defending.

"[The defendant] didn't set out each day with the intention of killing someone or causing serious harm. The knife was just something he had."

Rowe added the boy is left-handed, yet wielded the weapon with his right hand.

"The fact he was not holding the knife in his dominant hand suggests he was not intending to use it in earnest. It was there for show," he said.

"He didn't follow up his first blow with another. He didn't revel in the success of a job well done. This was a boy in panic for what had just unfolded in a second."

But the prosecution described the self-defence argument as a "non-starter", adding a large knife is "not the kind of thing you forget you've got on you".

The trial continues.

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