MURDER accused Kieran Ibitson is being cross-examined by prosecutor Richard Wright, QC, this morning about a triple stabbing after a family feud exploded into violence after a funeral.

The 21-year-old is the first of five men to give evidence in a trial surrounding the death of his cousin Steven Willis and the injuries suffered by his father John Pickering and half-brother Lennon Pickering.

Yesterday, Ibitson admitted taking a knife to the scene of the confrontation in Normanby, near Middlesbrough, and stabbing his uncle Mr Pickering, 47.

He said he was angry and upset that father-of-four Mr Pickering had hit his mother Susan Ibitson – Mr Pickering's sister – at a wake after the funeral on April 16.

The electrical apprentice turned up at the house in Meadowcroft Road with two of his cousins, his best friend and his sister's boyfriend.

He claims there was no discussion in the car about what was going to happen, but the suggestion was rubbished by Mr Wright.

Being questioned by Mr Wright he told the jury that cousins Mark Pickering, 32, and Dominic Pickering, 23, his twin sister's boyfriend Jack Cross, 21, were joined by his pal Jahmal Weaver, 22, after a phone call in which he mentioned having a "one-on-on" with Mr Pickering.

He said Weaver was "a handy lad" who might provide back-up should his uncle be violent towards him.

He told the jury: "He has had quite a few boxing fights."

Mr Wright asked: "You told us yesterday he was the sort of person who could provide effective back-up in a fighting sense if you needed it, is that right?"

Ibitson answered: "Yes sir."

Mr Wright went on: "You had in your mind there was likely to be violence. You have already told us you could not beat John on your own.

"You said yesterday Jahmal was better protection than the knife."

Ibitson said: "I said I didn't intent to use the knife, and that's why I spoke to Jahmal in case there was violence."

Mr Wright asked: "Did you plan what was going to happen when you got out the car?"

Ibitson: "No sir."

Mr Wright: "When you got to Meadowcroft, what did you expect to to happen? Sit down and have a cup of tea?"

Ibitson: "When we arrived, I saw his aggressive demeanour and conduct, and thought he would use violence."

Mr Wright: "You knew about this man's fearsome reputation and street fights in the past?"

Ibitson: "Yes sir."

Mr Wright: "You have gone there with that knife and you were always planning to use it. Your plan from the outset was that John Pickering was going to get it for what he had done to your mother. You thought you would sneak it out and stab him while all of you were attacking him."

Ibitson: "No sir."

Mr Wright: "What did you think when you thrust that knife into him?"

Ibitson: "I wasn't thinking about consequences, sir."

Mr Wright: "No, you were thinking about revenge."

Ibitson: "No sir."

Mr Willis, 27, who brought a samurai sword from the house after his father was stabbed, died after being stabbed through the heart, and his teenage half-brother also suffered wounds.

Ibitson has pleaded guilty to wounding his uncle with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but denies murdering his cousin and wounding with intent to cause serious bodily harm to Lennon, then 17.

The four others also deny murder and manslaughter and wounding with intent.

Yesterday, Ibitson told the jury that he was nearing the end of an electrical apprentice at the time of the incident, had a girlfriend who worked in the fashion industry and had plans for a good future.

Since the incident, he has been on remand in prison, his relationship ended just before his trial and he is now facing a lengthy prison sentence.

A short adjournment was called after loud crying from the public gallery when details of the stabbing were being discussed and CCTV footage of the moments played to the court.

Ibitson's barrister, Peter Doyle, QC, asked trial judge Mr Justice Males: "It is distressing. It's important the defendant isn't distracted by the understandable distress."

When the case restarted, the defendant admitted "lying throughout my police interview because I had dug a hole and couldn't get out".

He accepted not telling the truth about:

  • taking the knife to the scene;
  • not upset or angry;
  • the clothes he had been wearing;
  • stabbing Mr Pickering with a fence post;
  • inventing and drawing a picture of the weapon he had used;
  • the intent with which he stabbed Mr Pickering; and
  • acting in self-defence.

Ibitson said he had "got mixed up" when he said Mr Willis had been armed with the sword from the beginning of the incident.

Mr Wright said: "You lied because you tried to get away with it."

Ibitson replied: "That's not correct, sir."

Earlier, he had told the court: "I knew I was guilty to John. I didn't stab Lennon, and to my knowledge, I didn't inflict any injuries on Steven."

Mr Wright said: "You told the police in your interview that after you had left Meadowcroft that night, you were traumatised. Was that true?"

The defendant replied: "That's the word I used in my interview, but I lied throughout my interview.

"I knew what had done to John and I didn't want to dig myself into a bigger hole."

Mr Wright: "Did you feel sorry for what you had done?"

Ibitson: "Yes sir. It was not in my nature the way I acted on John Pickering."

Mr Wright: "And upset about him?"

Ibitson: "Yes, I was."

Mr Wright: "What caused Steven to fall backwards to the floor as you ran away?"

Ibitson: "I don't recall, sir."

Character references were read to the jury from a former teacher, college lecturer and employer who described Ibitson variously as "highly reliable and trustworthy", "a committed learned and keen to achieve" and "proud to impress with his positive work ethic".