Stab victim spent days tracking alleged killer

A man who was stabbed to death in a park had spent several days trying to track down his alleged killer, a court has heard.

Kyle Marshall, 37, died after being injured during an incident in Wellhead Fields, Bourne, Lincolnshire, on the evening of 26 June 2024.

Lincoln Crown Court heard he had been stabbed in the chest with a machete after he finally located Reece Bruns, 20, who prosecutors alleged carried out the murder after being passed the machete by a youth.

Mr Bruns, 20, of St Paul's Gardens, Bourne, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, both deny murder.

The court heard events had escalated after Mr Bruns allegedly assaulted Mr Marshall's brother-in-law at a festival in Bourne while he [Mr Marshall] was on remand for a matter that was later dropped.

Prosecutor Pavlos Panayi KC told the court: "Upon his release on 21 June, Mr Marshall was clearly very angry with Reece Bruns for attacking his brother-in-law and breaking his nose, and he felt the police had done nothing about it.

"Mr Marshall set about trying to track Mr Bruns down," he said.

The court heard Mr Marshall had exchanged messages with a friend which referred to a "dead man walking".

There were also messages between Mr Bruns and Mr Marshall, the jury was told.

Mr Panayi said: "Mr Bruns' last message was 'come find me then', and that is exactly what Mr Marshall set about doing."

"They all knew Kyle Marshall was on his way to settle things, to sort things out with Reece Bruns," said Mr Panayi.

After learning of his location, and despite pleas from relatives, Mr Marshall chose to drive to Bourne to confront Mr Bruns and parked at the Masons Arms pub, Mr Panayi said.

In the period before he arrived, Mr Panayi said the teenage boy had left the park before returning with a machete and a knife, which he concealed in his jacket.

"When Mr Marshall found them... he came charging towards Reece Bruns. We say he was clearly unarmed," said Mr Panayi.

The court also heard that Mr Bruns asked the 17-year-old to "give me the knife" as Mr Marshall approached.

Jurors were told Mr Marshall had tried to protect himself but was stabbed and left bleeding to death.

The trial continues.

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