Murder accused says he was not taking revenge when he repeatedly stabbed father

As he gave evidence for the first time, Sean Morrin insisted he had acted in self-defence on the night last year, when he stabbed 34-year-old father William Richardson following an argument earlier that evening.

For more than three hours, a Carlisle Crown Court jury heard the 33-year-old defendant answer questions about the tragedy.

Mr Richardson sustained seven stab wounds in the early hours of August 8 in Senhouse Street, including one which severed a major artery. Despite determined attempts to save him, he died at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary the following day.

Morrin said he never intended to hurt Mr Richardson, but he had pulled out the knife – which he claimed to have found on the street by chance – because he panicked and believed he was being attacked.

Describing events earlier in the evening, Morrin – formerly of Carlisle but living at Nelson Street, Maryport at the time – spoke of meeting Mr Richardson and Steven Bode, who were drinking together at the Labour Club.

Mr Richardson had promised to give him a cigarette paper, said Morrin.

But when he had appeared outside the club with Mr Bode, Mr Richardson looked at the defendant and commented: “I don’t know that smackhead,” said Morrin. “Mr Bode turned aggressive pretty quickly,” he said. “He was looking for a fight.”

The two men then chased him through Maryport but he was able to give them the slip by hiding in some bushes. As he walked home, said Morrin, he found a steak knife on the ground and put it into his waistband.

Asked why he did that, he replied: “Because I was scared... I knew they were wanting to cause me harm.”

Morrin said he decided to return to the Labour Club, where the other two men had been drinking, because he wanted them to drop the dispute..

“It didn’t need to go anywhere,” he said. Describing his next and fatal meeting with Mr Richardson outside the Labour Club at about 12.30am, Morrin said: “I didn’t recognise him, but he recognised me, clearly. He was focused on me... He was walking diagonally towards me.”

Defence QC David McLachlan asked Morrin what he saw in Mr Richardson’s face.

“He’s angry with me,” said the defendant.

Morrin said he saw Mr Richardson moving his arms as if to grab him – so he stepped back and fumbled for the knife.

“Why, Mr Morrin, were you fumbling for the knife?” asked Mr McLachlan.

Morrin replied: “I was scared. Up close, he’s a lot bigger than me.”

He thought the knife would stop Mr Richardson. He struck out with the knife to protect himself as Mr Richardson struggled against him, Morrin told the jury.

Prosecutor Andrew Thomas QC told Morrin: “The prosecution say all this about going back to confront him, to speak to him, is a big fat lie.

“Do you think it’s reasonable to pull a knife on someone just because he’s coming towards you?”

Morrin replied: “I did what I thought was necessary at the time to keep myself safe.” Mr Thomas challenged Morrin over his claim to have “lashed out” with the knife.

“These were not slash wounds; these were stab wounds,” said Mr Thomas.

Morrin said:”I didn’t mean for that to happen... I wasn’t controlling my actions... I didn’t try to do the injuries I caused.”

One wound penetrated Mr Richardson’s body to a depth of 10cm, said the prosecutor. Morrin said: “We had hold of each other; we were trying to overpower each other.”

Even after he stabbed Mr Richardson in the neck he did not notice the blood, said Morrin.

Mr Thomas asked: “Did you see William Richardson holding a weapon in his hand.”

Morrin replied: “No.”

Mr Thomas asked: “Did he try to hit you, swing for you?”

Morrin said: “He never got the chance.”

Mr Thomas then asked: “How is stabbing a man three times in the back ever self-defence?”

Morrin’s response was: “I didn’t plunge it into his back. I was trying to get him off me.”

Mr Thomas said the defendant was going through a tough time, living in Maryport with no friends, no job, no money; and just a week before, his bank cards, phone, and cash were stolen by visitors to his Nelson Street bedsit.

“Did you lose your rag?” asked the QC.

“I wasn’t angry,” said Morrin.

“You had gone back to get your revenge,” said the prosecutor.

“That’s not true,” said Morrin.

Mr Thomas said: “He didn’t see it coming, did he? You could have used your fists.” Morrin said: “Not against him.”

Asked why bare fists were not good enough, Morrin said: “I just panicked and grabbed the knife.”

The accounts of two other witnesses who saw Morrin continue attacking Mr Richardson as he lay on the ground were wrong, he said.

Mr Thomas told the defendant: “The truth is that you have made up this story about going back to speak to them with a knife to protect you only if you needed it.”

Morrin said: “I haven’t made it up.”

Mr Thomas retorted: “It’s all a lie, isn’t it?”

Morrin responded with: “It’s not.” The QC said Morrin’s account made no sense.

He continued: “You went for Will Richardson and didn’t give him a chance. You stabbed him again, and again. These were proper stabs.”

The barrister continued: “You are ducking responsibility, aren’t you.”

Morrin said: “I’m not.” “This was a murder, wasn’t it?” said Mr Thomas. “You deliberately stabbed him, didn’t you?”

Morrin said: “No. I didn’t.” “It’s all a pack of lies,” said Mr Thomas.

“It’s not,” replied Morrin.

The trial continues.