A TEENAGER accused of murdering an asylum seeker yesterday denied goading Iranians for "sport".

Steven Roberts is accused of stabbing Peiman Bahmani after a day of violent clashes between locals and asylum seekers at Peel Street, Sunderland, in August last year.

The 18-year-old told Newcastle Crown Court he went back into the street after an earlier confrontation to defend his family, who he thought could have been at risk from armed asylum seekers.

Yesterday, he admitted that Mr Bahmani was not armed when he lashed out "in self defence" after the Iranian threw a punch at him.

Paul Sloan, prosecuting, asked him: "Was this your idea of sport - baiting Iranians that afternoon?"

Mr Roberts replied "no".

He said he had shouted "back off" when he went into the street to face the Iranians, armed with two knives.

He said: "I did not intend to harm anyone with the knives."

Mr Roberts, of Morvenside, Edinburgh, denies murder.

Joseph Rutherford, 23, of Gray Road, Sunderland, denies affray and racially aggravated assault and Gavin Gash, 27, of Hedworth Street, Sunderland, denies racially aggravated assault, all relating to the build up to the murder.

The trial continues.