'I never wanted to take his life' - murder accused tells jury

Alexander Layton maintains he was 'fearing for his life' when he was confronted by an angry James Stokoe following a road-rage confrontation.

The 34-year-old claims that Mr Stokoe threatened to 'cave his skull in' after they clashed when he was forced to brake hard when the defendant stepped out in front of his car when he got off a bus.

Mr Stokoe suffered six stab wounds while he was sitting in his car and was pronounced dead at the scene on Trenchard Avenue, Thornaby, at around 2.20pm on May 15 last year.

James Stokoe

Giving evidence this morning, Layton told Teesside Crown Court how Mr Stokoe was bouncing around and shouting at him before he got back in his car and sped towards him.

Describing the moments leading up to the fatal stabbing, he said: "He was hurling a lot of abuse. He looked really angry. The angriest person I’ve ever seen to be honest.

"He said 'he'd smash my head in', out of the window. I felt really scared at the time. I wanted to get away from him. I proceeded to walk away quite quickly."

Defence barrister Bryan Cox asked his client what happened after that.

The defendant said: "He started going crazy. Saying he’d cave my skull in. He threatened my life.

"He said 'I’ll kill you. Get here now.' He started doing this Indian War dance. He was dancing around like he was going to war with me. Like a battle cry 'get here now'.

"It was terrifying, I was having a horrible panic attack."

Mr Cox asked what happened next.

He replied: "I just heard this screeching and loud revving noise, the car turned around and the big BMW came towards me. I just felt like I was really panicking, I was fearing for my life - I thought he was going to run me over."

After the car came to a halt next to him, Layton said: "I dropped my bags. I took my backpack off. It was like he was bending over to reach for something on the passenger side.

"It looked like he was getting something to pull out at me - I thought he had a weapon.

"I feared for my safety and was having a panic attack."

Mr Cox asked him what happened next. He replied: "I pulled this knife out and I thought I will just scare him away. I wanted him to think 'I won't mess with him' and just go."

Describing the moment he stabbed Mr Stokoe, he added: "I went towards the car, I was just panicked. I was very scared at the time. I said 'just leave me alone'."

Mr Cox asked if his client remembered injuring Mr Stokoe with the knife. He replied: "I don't remember it actually going into his leg - it was all just a blur.

"I wasn't fully present, it was like something took over me at the time."

When asked if he ever intended to kill Mr Stokoe, he replied: "No, I never wanted to. That was why it was only once in the leg and I don't remember anything after that time."

Layton, of Shackleton Close, Thornaby, who is also charged with possession of a knife, denies murder.

Following the fatal stabbing, Cleveland Police managed to trace Layton's movements as he left Thornaby and headed towards North Yorkshire where he was arrested the following evening at a pizza shop in Great Ayton.

The trial continues.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054