A young Wellington man, accused of stabbing another man who had beaten him, said he acted in self defence.
Robert Puna, 21, has pleaded not guilty in Wellington District Court to a charge of wounding Ryan Hammond, 22, with intent to injure during a party at Lower Hutt last September.
Both Puna and Mr Hammond attended Friday night drinks at a Cambridge Terrace address. Mr Hammond told the court yesterday he had been drunk and admitted he had been acting like a "wanker".
Puna today said Mr Hammond had been trying to pick fights with three men at the party. He heard a noise outside and saw Mr Hammond in the driveway, leaning through a car window, attacking the driver.
Later they all went for a drive with Mr Hammond at the wheel. Puna said he stopped on Oxford Terrace, leaped out of the car and smashed the window and door of a house. He then attacked the man who lived at the house.
Puna said Mr Hammond stopped again on the way home to steal a box of pre-mixed drinks from a pair of young men sat on the side of the road.
Puna told the court his phone rang shortly after their return and he went outside where it was quieter to take the call. He turned around in the driveway in time to see Mr Hammond's fist flying at his face.
Puna said he was hit about five times before both men returned to the house, heading for the kitchen where cannabis was being smoked .
Puna said Mr Hammond then picked up two "red hot" spotting knives from the element and waved them in the host's face.
"I was standing next to the sink and I saw a knife out of the corner of my eye."
He picked up the knife, with a blade about 15cm long, and told Mr Hammond to leave them alone.
Puna said Mr Hammond began "cackling" and said "a knife fight eh?" before lunging at him.
They fell to the ground and wrestled. Puna said Mr Hammond was screaming abuse and said he was going to kill him.
"I was scared, it happened pretty quick.
"I was waiting to feel a hot knife in my throat.
"Once he said `I'm going to kill you', I just put the knife in his back."
He said he had not seen, as another witness had, Mr Hammond drop the knives before grabbing him.
Crown prosecutor Clair Boshier told the court Mr Hammond had a different version of events and his was the only story which had not changed since he spoke with police a year ago.
Mr Hammond yesterday said they had gone back inside after he had punched Puna and as he was standing at the stove a woman had yelled "knife".
Mr Hammond said he turned and saw Puna. He then grabbed Puna and pushed him into the hallway. He was unsure at what point he had been stabbed.
Ms Boshier said the location and shape of the wound did not appear possible to achieve with such a long knife if they had been wrestling face to face with Puna's arms wrapped around Mr Hammond.
Tomorrow the jury will hear the judge's summary before retiring to deliberate.
