Pub worker denies killing friend

The man accused of stabbing to death a friend in a flat in Luton was seen with a plaster over his finger the morning after the killing, a court has heard.

Oral Seaton, 45, of Woolhampton, Berkshire, denies murdering Winston Dowe-Stephenson, 50, in September 2008.

Luton Crown Court was told Mr Dowe-Stephenson was stabbed more than 100 times at his flat in Frederick Gate.

Adam Divel, a chef who worked with the accused in a pub, said he saw the plaster on one of Mr Seaton's fingers.

Mr Divel said he asked Mr Seaton, who worked in a pub in Berkshire, what he had done and he replied that while at an airport the night before a woman had dropped her bags on his hand.

'Owed money'

Mr Dowe-Stephenson was stabbed to death at his flat as he was preparing to start a new life and move to Turkey.

The jury has been told the deceased and the accused had been good friends for many years.

But Mr Seaton had borrowed money from Mr Dowe-Stephenson to buy a flat and in 2008 owed him £20,000.

Mr Dowe-Stephenson was anxious to get the money back because he needed to complete a property transaction to buy his own flat in Turkey.

The court has heard that as the deceased pressed his friend to repay him the money in September, Mr Seaton went on holiday.

A week later - just hours before the alleged murder - he flew back into Stansted Airport.

However, say the prosecution, instead of driving home to Woolhampton he drove around the M25 to the junction with the M1 and then headed to Luton.

It is alleged after getting into Mr Dowe-Stephenson's flat, Mr Seaton stabbed his former friend a total of 116 times using two weapons. The case continues.