A man who witnessed the brawl between two brothers has told jurors how a night out descended into fatal violence within minutes of the pair arguing.
Inderjit Klare picked up a knife and stabbed his brother Jasreet several times while they brawled inside the family-owned chip shop in October last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Jordan Alderson, who met the brothers during a night out in Bishop Auckland, said he was forced to kick his way out of the shop fearing that he would be next to be attacked.
The 25-year-old and his friend, Michael Wilson, were innocently caught up in melee as the brothers started fighting each other within minutes of entering the shop on Tenters Street.
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In a police interview, Mr Alderson said he feared for his life when he saw one of the men slashing at the other with a knife.
He said: “It was like a scuffle at first, there was no punches thrown, that’s when the other guy picked the knife up. That’s when the scuffle got really intense.”
The witness said as the pair tried to flee the scene, he could see Inderjit straddling his brother and slashing and stabbing at Jasreet while he was on the floor.”
Under cross-examination from defence barrister, David Lamb KC, Mr Alderson accepted that the violence was short-lived and happened quickly once everyone was inside the chip shop.
Michael Wilson, who was with his friend Mr Alderson, told police that the pair ran for their ‘lives’ after kicking a window out and fleeing the scene.
He added: “We knew we had to get out of there. We managed to break the shop window and as soon as it smashed, we just ran.
“We ran from the shop as though we were running for our lives. We were just in a state of shock, we were frightened as well because it was brutal.”
When paramedics finally arrived at the scene the 40-year-old had bled to death.
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Jasreet suffered several stab wounds during the fight, significantly one to his right forearm which went right through and severed an artery.
During police interview the defendant provided a number of short, prepared statements blaming his brother for starting the fight and had to choke him at one point.
Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting, said the accused admitted cleaning up the site but maintained that his brother was still alive when he called for help.
Inderjit denies murdering his brother and the trial continues.
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