Accused said he used knife in self-defence - court

A man accused of murder told police he picked up the knife that caused the fatal injury in self-defence after the victim threatened his partner, a court has heard.

John Robinson denies murder, manslaughter and possessing a weapon in a public place after the death of Mason Jones in Burley in Wharfedale on 1 March.

The fourth day of Robinson's trial at Bradford Crown Court heard he had picked up the Japanese chef's knife in self-defence after Jones put his hands around his partner Annabel Ramsey's neck.

In a police interview read to the court, Robinson, 30, said he had "picked up the knife and told them to go away", adding: "I stabbed him by accident."

Robinson, of Derry Hill in Menston, said in the interview: "The first thing I said to Annabel was 'I think I stabbed him'.

"We were pretty scared so we went to my house."

Robinson told police he usually took the Katto knife in an Asda bag to his partner's flat for cooking and he had previously worked as a chef.

Robinson claims he stabbed 30-year-old Jones by accident after he slipped in his socks trying to defend Ramsey.

The defendant told police he had previously been a chef at Bradford Golf Club but was now a full-time carer for his 84-year-old grandmother, who had dementia and arthritis.

In the police interview, the officer asked Robinson: "Is it normal for you to take your knife every time you go to Annabel's?"

To which he replied: "Yes."

Robinson said the knife was already packed in the bag he usually took to Ramsey's alongside some spare clothing, and he did not pack it especially when she called him asking for help on the morning of the incident.

The court heard earlier in the week how the stabbing had occurred after disagreements at Ramsey's flat between her and her friends Jones, Nicole Clements and William Clarke.

Rasmey had asked the two men to leave but later that morning they had returned and she had ordered a taxi for Robinson to come from his home in Menston to help her, the court was told.

Robinson told the officer Jones had been banging on the door, was aggressive and had asked to be let in, and used racial slurs against him.

"They were angry. It looked like they wanted to beat somebody up," he said.

He told the officer he was scared and when he saw Jones abusing Ramsey he "picked up the first thing I could see to protect Annabel".

The trial is expected to continue into next week.

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