A DEFENDANT accused of murder has told a court how he was trying to defend himself as he stabbed two men.

Nicholas Price, 43, of Weymouth, gave evidence at the trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Price is charged with the murder of Abdal Rahman Al-Rabia, the attempted murder of Ryan Smith, and the alternative count of wounding with intent.

He has denied all charges, which relate to an incident alleged to have occurred in Price’s flat in Bath Street, Weymouth, on November 8, 2015.

Price told the court about the events of November 7 and 8 last year.

He told the court how on November 7, a 16-year-old male arrived at his flat to sell him and a woman drugs.

Price admitted to taking crack cocaine on that day. Price told the court how Mr Smith, Mr Al-Rabia, and a 16-year-old all arrived at the flat during the Saturday to sell him and a woman drugs and that he had not seen any of the three men before.

When asked why the three men were at the flat, Price told the court that they were there to sell drugs and that they answered a lot of phone calls and came and went from the flat throughout the dayHe also said that both Mr Smith and the 16-year-old had guns in their possession at the flat.

Mr Price told the court he wasn’t happy with the three men being there and that during the afternoon Mr Al-Rabia had asked him to get him a couple of knives as “you never know who is going to come through the door.”

He told the court how he got the knives for Mr Al-Rabia and placed them on a table in the lounge.

Price told the court how he went to his bedroom in the early hours of November 8 and how the following morning, he was awoken by the woman calling his name and crying.

He said that he went to see what was happening and found her in the bathroom with a cut to her arm and that she was shaken up with tears running down her face.

Price told the court how the woman alleged that one of the men had tried to rape her and he then asked the men what was going on.

He said that Mr Smith said that the woman had stolen some crack cocaine and Mr Al-Rabia said that she had to pay for it.

Price then said that he saw Mr Smith put his hand on the handle of the gun and he picked up a hammer, as he was scared.

He told the court how he then just lashed out with the hammer and then he picked up a knife from the table and stabbed Mr Smith but he was just defending himself.

Price said that he then saw Mr Al-Rabia get up.

He said: “He just sort of came in front of me and waved a knife at me.

“I don’t remember stabbing Al-Rabia. I’m remember him getting up and coming towards me but everything happened too quick."

“I’m not saying I didn’t do. I was trying to defend myself. I was properly scared and upset.”

When asked whether he meant to kill Mr Al-Rabia, Price replied: “No, not at all."

He accepted responsibility for the injuries both men suffered.

Following this, Price said that the 16-year-old male left the flat through the bathroom window and he followed him with a knife, as he feared the male had a gun, before he fell through a corrugated roof and returned to the flat.

Soon after, Price phoned the emergency services.

When asked earlier in the trial whether he, Mr-Al- Rabia and the 16-year-old male were involved in an operation dealing Class-A drugs and whether he was in possession of a gun, Mr Smith denied both of these accusations.

The trial continues.