Murdered man 'stabbed with chisel'

Matthew Hornsby was attacked in Leslie Close, Swindon

A 25-year-old man was stabbed in the back with a chisel minutes after an argument, a court has heard.

Matthew Hornsby died on 3 April last year after he was set upon in a residential area of Swindon.

The trial of four men accused of killing him restarted on Tuesday at Bristol Crown Court after the first jury was sent home over a legal technicality.

Nicholas Sheppard, 35, of Freshbrook, Daniel Porter, 28, of West Swindon and father and son Andrew Ephgrave, 42, of Grange Park and Michael Ephgrave, 19, of west Swindon, all deny charges of murder and violent disorder.

Matthew Hornsby was stabbed last April

The court heard Mr Hornsby was "a man who could look after himself" and that he had a history of convictions.

But the jury was told that on the night he was killed, the 25-year-old did not stand a chance.

Prosecuting, Nigel Pascoe QC, told the new jury Mr Hornsby and Michael Ephgrave were involved in a confrontation outside the Freshbrook shops in Swindon on the evening in question.

He said there had been a history of bad blood between the pair, and that Mr Hornsby had been drinking.

A fight took place outside the shops, and some time later Mr Hornsby was set upon by the four men in nearby Leslie Close.

He was stabbed with a chisel and died later in hospital.

The case continues.