A MAN stabbed his brother's best mate to death after a "trivial" argument over a memory card escalated into violence, a court heard.

Lee Barclay, 35, of Gordon Road, Whitehall, admits the manslaughter of his brother Dennis's friend James Martin in the early hours of July 1 last year, but denies murder.

Irish Mr Martin, 31, died of a single stab wound to the chest from a large kitchen knife that punctured his right lung.

At the first day of Lee Barclay's murder trial, prosecution barrister Ray Tulley told the jury at Bristol Crown Court that Dennis had an "open door policy" at his maisonette on Walker Close, Easton, often having friends and family round, drinking and socialising. The night of June 30 was no different, when a number of people were there at various times.

The court heard that a few days earlier, friend Sinead Boyle was having trouble with her mobile phone and had handed it to Thomas Carey – Mr Martin's brother-in-law – to see if he could fix it. He could not, but a few days later she noticed the memory card was missing.

She told the court she later questioned Mr Carey about it.

Having been told about this, Mr Martin shouted at Miss Boyle on the night of June 30, accusing her of embarrassing Mr Carey.

Miss Boyle told the court he suggested that Dennis and Lee's younger brother, 12-year-old Jordan, may have taken the memory card.

An argument developed between Mr Martin, Dennis and Lee, which calmed down.

But while Lee and Miss Boyle were at a nearby shop buying wine, Dennis asked Mr Martin to leave and ushered him off his property.

The jury was told that as he did so, Mr Martin fell, before getting up and punching his host.

Having witnessed the tail-end of the confrontation on his return, Lee walked Mr Martin home to Morton Street, Lawrence Hill. But about an hour later, Mr Martin, who had been drinking heavily, returned to Dennis' flat and repeatedly challenged Lee to a fight outside.

Mr Tulley said Lee took a large kitchen knife from the kitchen, went outside and deliberately stabbed Mr Martin. Later, Lee went to his dad George's house on Durbin Walk, Easton, where he buried the knife in the garden, showered and changed his clothes, said Mr Tulley. He handed himself in to police the next day.

The case continues.