Blackpool murder accused takes to the stand

Kris Kam, 35, died in the Blackpool Victoria Hospital at around 8.24pm on Sunday, October 27, 2019 - the day after he was set upon on Queen Victoria Road, Blackpool, close to the junction with Levens Grove, Blackpool.

A post mortem examination showed he had suffered three separate stab wounds to the legs, one of which severed his popliteal artery.

Despite surgery and blood transfusions Mr Kam died 33 hours after the alleged attack.

Christopher Carrington, 26, of no fixed address, has previously given his evidence, and now Munochismo Eriken, 28, of South Green, London, is in the witness box.

Their co-defendants, Shaquille Cumberbatch, 27, of Montrose Avenue, Edgware, London, and Kevin Gracia, 26, of Hilltop Avenue, London, exercised their right not to give evidence.

All four men deny murder and are on trial at Preston Crown Court.

When asked if he knew where or who Mr Kam was before the incident Eriken replied: "No sir."

Asked about his background, he told the court he had known his co-defendant Cumberbatch for 10 years, as they " used to play football on astroturf in the same area of London," and had bumped into each other over the years due to living in the same area.

He admits travelling to Manchester for drugs on October 23, a few days before Mr Kam was attacked, but denied any drugs or money changed hands and said he 'waited for hours' but the person he was supposed to meet didn't turn up.

Jurors were told he met Cumberbatch and Gracia at Archie's burger bar in Manchester after contact by phone and was invited to go to Blackpool

Asked why he was going to Blackpool he replied: "Just to chill I guess, to chill.

"There was nothing to do apart from wait for this guy who never turned up. The idea came up to go to Blackpool. I didn't really argue the point because I didn't really have a choice really, it's not my call."

He said he travelled to the resort in a car with co-defendants Cumberbatch, Gracia and two other men. They arrived at a flat on Central Drive and there were four people inside, including his co-defendant Carrington.

Eriken referred to one of the men as 'KFC man' and another as 'coffee man' as he had brought coffees to the flat.

He told jurors when they arrived at the flat they "went inside, we partied".

Asked to clarify what he meant by 'partied', he said: "Just smoking weed, laughing, just chilling."

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