A MAN who was injured during an incident which left a young father dead described it as “the most horrible thing in the world”.

Jack Taylor, 19, of Oakley Close, Grays, and Dusan Samardzija, 23, of Cypress Path, Romford, are standing trial charged with the murder of 24-year-old Kevin Malthouse.

Father-of-one Mr Malthouse, from Stanford-le-Hope, died following a street fight in Blackshots Lane, Grays, in the early hours of Saturday, July 1 last year.

Taylor and Samardzija are also charged with three counts of the grievous bodily harm of three others - Mason Aldwinckle, Wesley Gray and Ricky Gould. They all suffered stab wounds.

Mr Gould, 18, from Tilbury, took the stand on day three of the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday and described feeling “cold and wetness” on his chest after being stabbed.

The court heard Mr Gould and his friends had been at the Treacle Mine pub in Grays drinking after attending a funeral.

He told the jury that after someone slashed Mason Aldwinckle’s tyres, they attempted to drive home in Perry Armstrong’s car, but their journey was halted when a black Ford Fiesta pulled across their path.

Responding to questions from prosecutor Dorian Lovell-Pank QC, Mr Gould said: “Jack got out and went to the boot and opened it. He had a bag. This all happened very quickly.”

He described how Taylor “lunged at him” and said: “I felt the cold and wetness on my right upper chest. It frightened me and I was shocked.

“I was panicking so much and I was screaming that I was stabbed. I had to get to hospital so that’s what I did.

“I remember Kevin turning around with blood on his top and then he hit the floor. Everyone was screaming his name. It was the most horrible thing in the world.”

Taylor’s defence barrister Tana Adkin told Mr Gould she believed he and his friends had attacked Taylor before they were injured. She said: “Taylor ran didn’t he? He was running away from you.

“You had weapons and as soon as that Fiesta stopped, you all got out of the car to attack Jack Taylor. After getting hold of him, he got away, got the bag and ran up the road and you all chased him. He was brought down and the bag fell. He was hit over the head and that’s when he turned round and was lashing out to get you all off him.”

Mr Gould denied Ms Adkin’s assertions and said: “He lashed out at me. As soon as I noticed the stab wound, I went into my own little world.” Mr Gould, who had to take a break during his testimony because he felt unwell, told the court he was in hospital for five days.

The trial continues