Lewis Gray said he had been told Joe Dinsdale had a "reputation" and could be "ruthless."

Gray, 21, of Marfleet Lane, Hull, is accused of murdering 17-year-old Joe in February.

Joe, from Bilsdale Grove, Hull, died in hospital from a single stab wound to the heart after the street attack, Hull Crown Court heard.

Gray told the jury Joe had attended a party at his flat and had become involved in an argument with another man.

Gray said he asked everyone, including Joe, to leave the property and everyone congregated outside.

He said he felt intimidated by the group and as he walked away he was joined by another youth who told him about Joe's "reputation."

He told the jury: "He was telling me he was ruthless, 'you don't want to get between him'.

"He was just saying 'he has got a reputation. If he gets hold of you he will smash you in."'

Gray said he was feeling scared and when he arrived outside a friend's father's house he was given a knife.

The court was told that Gray, along with two other friends, were all armed with knives.

He said they all shouted "come on" as Joe turned round and began to approach them.

He claimed another friend warned him Joe was "known for using weapons" and he shouldn't get involved.

Gray told his companion he was going 'to scare him with the knife'.
He added: "I had just come to the area and I just didn't want no trouble.

"I just wanted to show him I had a knife and he couldn't take the piss out of me."

Gray said he and Joe met in the street, with Joe appearing "angry."
He said everything happened very quickly as the pair faced each other.

"I put my hand to me face and put my right hand out and swung," he told the jury.

"As I pulled back and got up he started to run away," he added. He told the jury he started to pursue Joe but was unaware the teenager was injured.

He stopped the pursuit and was confronted by some of the people who had attended the party.

Someone told him Joe was bleeding and he looked down at his knife.

He added: "I looked down at the knife and seen there was blood.

"I said 'oh shit look at the blood on the knife'."

In the hours following the stabbing, Gray told the jury he panicked.

He added: "I thought I'm going to get arrested and got to jail and my family will end up paying for something I have done."

Gray denies a charge of murder.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.