Witnesses have told a murder trial jury how they saw a man stabbed to death after an argument in a Bishopsworth street.

Bradley Payne, aged 32, of Witch Hazel Road, Hartcliffe, is on trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of murdering John Derrick.

The jury had been told by the prosecution that Mr Derrick died after being stabbed in the stomach and head with a kitchen knife, with the fatal blow passing through his eye into his brain.

Yesterday a number of witnesses gave accounts of the events leading up to Mr Derrick's death – saying that Payne had had an argument with Mr Derrick and then stabbed him twice before riding off on a BMX bike.

The incident was said to have happened in Gatehouse Avenue at around 8.30pm on July 12 last year.

Witness Shane Brown told the court he had known Mr Derrick for several years:

He added: "He was a bit drunk. Payne drove up on his bike, he was talking to Johnny when something came up, something about Payne's dad. Johnny was taking his coat off, he said something about a one-on-one fight. Payne put his hand behind his back as he approached, and stabbed him in the stomach and the side of his head straight after."

Another witness, Robert Darby, said: "I was just shocked at the blade, the size of the knife. I couldn't believe it. The next thing, Payne lost the plot and stabbed him."

Payne denies murdering Mr Derrick. He also denies further charges of threatening to kill and unlawfully wounding another man, Aaron Bennington, in an incident a month before Mr Derrick's death.

The case continues.