A MURDER suspect claimed he was trying to protect himself during a fatal stabbing which took place at the heart of the town centre.

Joe Paffey, 21, of Old Southend Road, Southend, and Aidon Pearce, 21, of Treecot Drive, Leigh, deny the murder and attempted robbery of Fabian Kacica earlier this year.

Fabian died from a single stab wound to the chest after a fight broke out near the Forum Library, in Southend, on May 14 this year.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Amjad Malik QC told the court Paffey handed himself in two days after Fabian’s death and told officers via a prepared statement that he feared he was being attacked.

Reading the statement to the jury at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, Mr Malik said: “We walked over to ask the guys why they were hanging round two 15-year-old girls.

“One of my friends took the keys from the car and threw them away. The driver got out of the car and started punching my friend.

“I think he hit him about three times in the face.

“The guy in the back jumped out with a crowbar and ran round.

“The driver then ran towards me. I was scared and my only thought was to protect myself.

“I had no intention of using the knife. He continued running at me and straight into the knife.

“He then pulled back which caused the knife to come off his body and then he fell to the floor.

“I was in shock as everything happened so quickly.

“I had no intention of causing this man any harm. I was only protecting myself.”

Mr Malik proceeded to tell the jury the knife had never been recovered adding: “It’s clear this defendant has disposed of it after the stabbing.”

Earlier in the hearing, Mr Malik told the court CCTV clearly showed Fabian’s friend was in the car when Pearce and Paffey came over.

He said: “It’s clear from CCTV that before his friend had even got past the rear of the car, Joe Paffey had already stabbed Fabian.

“He will say Fabian had done nothing to Paffey before this happened. He swung his wheel brace towards those men and they ran.

“These defendants ran away quickly and left Fabian bleeding profusely.

“His friend put pressure on the wound to stem the bleeding but described Fabian, as you will hear, as impossibly fighting for his life and gasping for breath.” Both men deny murder and attempted robbery. The trial continues.