Man denies screwdriver murder

Kevin Jackson left behind two young sons

A Bradford man accused of killing a father-of-two by stabbing him in the head with a screwdriver played no part in his death, a court has heard.

Rangzaib Akhtar, 20, said he was hiding in a garden at the time Kevin Jackson was attacked outside his home in Skircoat Green, Halifax, on 30 December last year.

Mr Akhtar, and co-defendants Rashad Zaman, 21, and Raees Khan, 20, deny murdering Mr Jackson but admit attempting to steal a car outside his home.

Mr Akhtar told Leeds Crown Court the trio had been "cruising about" in Mr Zaman's Ford Fiesta on the evening of the murder.

Knocked unconscious

He told the jury they were equipped with a wrench and a screwdriver to be used specifically for stealing cars.

They spotted a Toyota RAV 4 car outside Mr Jackson's home.

"While Raees was nicking the car a woman looked out of the window and shouted 'Oy what are you doing?'," said Mr Akhtar.

"Then a big guy came out of the house and we tried to run off."

Mr Akhtar, of Salt Street, told the jury he ran into a garden to hide.

He later saw Mr Jackson lying on the ground but thought he had just been knocked unconscious.

He said it was not until a few days later he heard Mr Jackson had died in hospital from his injuries on New Year's Day.