A TEENAGER tried to attack a pregnant woman with a clothes prop two years before killing his friend with a knife, a court heard.

Newcastle Crown Court has heard David Mitchell, 19, stabbed Paul Best during his 18th birthday celebrations at home on February 13 last year.

Neighbour Julie Callaghan told the court yesterday how Mr Mitchell came at her with a clothes prop when she refused to give him a drink at a barbeque two years previously.

Ms Callaghan, who lives with Paul's cousin and was three months pregnant at the time of the attack, told the court: "He started shouting, picked the clothes prop up and went for me. My partner had to hold him down and then his brother came over and calmed him down."

The court heard how Mr Mitchell was known to have a short fuse and was often goaded by people due to the fact he had a number of difficulties.

Paul was pronounced dead on the sitting room floor of his semi-detached house at North Crescent, Easington.

The court heard how Mr Mitchell had fled home and insisted he had done nothing wrong when he was arrested a short while later.

Mr Mitchell, also of North Crescent, denies murder and the trial continues.