'Killer had haircut' after attack

Kevin Joyce died from a stab wound to his heart

A man accused of murdering a Buckinghamshire mechanic went for a haircut after stabbing his victim in the heart, a court has heard.

Keith Orchard, 29, from Walgrave Drive, Bradwell, Milton Keynes, denies murdering Kevin Joyce, 27, at Kipling Motorist Centre in the city.

Mr Orchard told a jury that he did not realise he had inflicted the fatal wound to Mr Joyce on 8 September.

He stabbed Mr Joyce in front of his colleagues, Luton Crown Court heard.

The jury heard how Mr Orchard had been in a stormy relationship with Mr Joyce's sister, Katy Gunn.

Lock knife

The defendant told how on the morning of Mr Joyce's death there were a series of abusive text messages between him and his ex-girlfriend.

They were followed, he said, by a phone call from Mr Joyce who wanted to meet him.

He said it ended up with Mr Joyce saying: "If you don't meet me I will come to your house and burn it down."

Mr Orchard admitted taking a lock knife with him but claimed he did not intend to use it.

He told the jury that he asked his friend James O'Gorman to come with him to "keep things cool".

Mr Orchard told the jury that when he arrived at the garage Mr Joyce was standing at the front of the workshop, holding a hammer in his right hand.

I thought maybe I had caught his arm or hand Keith Orchard

He said that Mr Joyce's left hand suddenly came up, so he pulled his own hand out of his pocket to show him the knife to make him back off.

The defendant claimed he did not see if the knife made contact with Mr Joyce because things were happening quickly and he may have shut his eyes.

Asked by Jeremy Gold, QC, defending, if he realised he had stabbed Mr Joyce, the defendant replied "No. I thought maybe I had caught his arm or hand."

He said it was not long after he went into the city centre to get his haircut later that day that he became aware that Mr Joyce was seriously ill in hospital.

Mr O'Gorman of Polruan Place, Fishermead, Milton Keynes, is accused of helping Mr Orchard commit the murder.

Mr O'Gorman, who claims he went to the garage to act as a peacemaker, denies murder, assisting an offender and affray.

The case continues.