THE first few days of the trial of a teenager accused of murdering former Thurrock man James Gibbons are drawing to a close after the dramatic events that led to his stabbing were told to Chelmsford Crown Court.

The trial of the 16-year-old youth, who cannot be named because of his age, is expected to last four weeks and there will be more recollections of the harrowing last few moments of 34-year-old Mr Gibbons' life.

Mr Gibbons died after being stabbed near his home in Iris Mews, Laindon on 2 May this year.

Mr Gibbons had been celebrating his daughter's birthday on the day of his death. She is one of his four children.

The court previously heard Mr Gibbons had stepped in to help a homeless man being confronted by a group of youths.

Members of the jury were shown an interview by video of one boy involved in the video who alleged that Mr Gibbons had attacked the accused, first with a punch to the head and then with a pole.

Earlier a homeless man who had been befriended by Mr Gibbons told the court he was being harassed by youths and that Mr Gibbons had left his home to help him. That had led to a confrontation with the accused.

For the prosecution, QC Simon Taylor told the court that that the defendant, who denies murder, claims he was acting defensively but there was no dispute that he had stabbed Mr Gibbons four times.

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And he said that despite the allegations that the defendant had been hit by Mr Gibbons, there were no marks on him.

The trial continues.