Jurors hear all evidence in Buckley murder trial

Jamie Mitchell, aged 25 and of Lexham Green Close, denies the murder of Steven Wilkinson - the alleged offence having taken place in an alleyway at Jubilee Court on October 4 last year.

On Wednesday, defending counsel Gordon Cole KC formally closed the defence case, at which point the Judge gave Jurors legal directions as to their deliberations.

As part of that, he said the defendant had accepted having caused the fatal injury - but the Jury would have to discern whether he was guilty of murder, manslaughter or not guilty.

Counsel on both sides of the case then delivered their closing speeches.

Michael Jones KC, prosecuting, told the Jury: "An intention can be formed in the moment.

READ MORE: Murder accused considered alleyway stabbing victim "a friend," court told

"You may think when he left [home] with that knife, he (Mitchell) didn't intend to kill anyone.

"But it's what happened in that alleyway; that right handed thrust into the chest that the defendant hadn't been able to explain.

"You've seen what the defendant did.

"He bolted out of that alleyway; we say because he knew exactly what he'd done in that moment to Steven."

Mr Jones KC said the defendant had gone out "hunting" for those he believed responsible for smashing his window.

He added: "You have the visual CCTV and the audio.

"Steven [is] running for his life into that passageway. You have the defendant with the knife out chasing him.

"You can hear when Steven is stabbed. He cries out.

"The defendant, he legs it. Because he knew what he's done.

"[Steven] didn't stand a chance.

"We submit you've heard from Steven himself.

"When Jordan Spencer was asked about when he went to Steven's aid, he said 'I asked him; did he get you?' and Steven's response was 'yeah, he stabbed me in my side.'

"This wasn't an accident."

Mr Jones KC also addressed the defendant's "no comment" response to police questioning.

"What he wants you to believe the reason he answered no comment was that he was in shock," he told the Jury.

"We say it's because he hadn't thought of an answer or a defence at that point.

"He knew he's stabbed Steven deliberately, having pursued him.

"He wasn't in shock. He frankly had no answer for what he'd done.

"He has tried to fit his account around the prosecution case.

Mr Cole KC, for the defence, told the Jury: "As is obvious in cases like this, emotions are massive.

"It can sometimes be difficult to say we truly understand emotion.

"One thing is clear; when the prosecution say the fact of the knife being there led to the death of Steven Wilkinson, there can't be any argument there.

"This young man is entitled to have his case considered by you.

"The prosecution bring this charge and they must make you sure of it.

"I invite consideration in a careful way of the evidence you've heard.

"When he's criticised for something not in his defence statement, think whether that criticism is fair. If it isn't, where does it take you?

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"What does it make you think about what this defendant has said?

"Dr Rodgers (Home Office Pathologist) could not pathologically rule out an accident.

"We invite no more or less than an objective assessment of all of this evidence because this young man says he is not guilty of the deliberate killing of Steven Wilkinson."

Mr Cole also urged Jurors to take care when assessing CCTV footage in the case, telling them: "Whilst you can see something happening, it certainly doesn't tell you what's going through the mind of the people involved.

"It doesn't tell you what's going through the mind of Jamie Mitchell."

He also said the defendant's reaction to the smashed window on the night wasn't the product of a "one-off" - explaining it is against a background of ongoing violence, intimidation and criminal damage against the Mitchells.

Mr Cole KC also suggested that given the evidence of Jordan Spencer, the victim's friend, there had been "something brewing" among the males who met him and Mr Wilkinson on the night.

He added: "We submit this was a group of people prepared to get embroiled and go back to Jamie Mitchell's house and cause damage.

"It could justify why Jamie Mitchell was sufficiently frightened, upset, angry - why he went out of that house armed with a weapon.

"I don't seek to condone that behaviour. 

"Whatever your interpretation of the facts - as a result of this man taking a knife, another young man lost his life."

Jurors are expected to retire to consider their verdict on Thursday.

The trial continues.