Boyfriend's dying words on phone

A young woman listened on a mobile phone as her boyfriend was stabbed to death by a childhood friend, a court has been told.

Angela Baker, of Luton, Bedfordshire, told a jury at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday: "I said 'Del, are you there?'

"Then I heard him say 'Help me, help me, help me. I'm dying' and then screaming 'No!'"

The prosecution claims Miss Baker was listening to the last words of 33-year-old roofer Derek Andrews.

I lost it, I really lost it. I didn't know what I was doing Stuart Steele

Mr Andrews was stabbed six times beside a canal in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, in November last year, the court heard.

Edward Jenkins QC, prosecuting, said Mr Andrews was attacked by Stuart Steele, a childhood friend and one of his empoyees.

Mr Steele, who denies murder, is then alleged to have ripped a gold chain off his victim before leaving the scene.

Mr Steele, 38, from Carmelite Road, Harrow Weald, told police it was Mr Andrews who had threatened him with a knife.

Concern about fingerprints

He said they had struggled at the canal, then both toppled into a ditch and Mr Andrews ended up on top of him.

He said Mr Andrews tried to grab for the knife, but Mr Steele reached it first and lashed out.

"Andrews was on top of me saying 'What have you done it for? Why have you done it?" he told detectives.

The jury heard Mr Steele took the gold chain because he was worried it might have his fingerprints on it.

He was said to have told police: "I lost it, I really lost it. I didn't know what I was doing."

The trial continues.