Teen who stabbed ex-soldier was 'taunted over teeth'

A teenager who went on the run after stabbing a former soldier said he had been taunted by him in the street, a court heard.

Elvis Price, 18, of Amulet Way, Thetford, and a second defendant, aged 17, who could not be named due to their age, both denied attempted murder.

Danny Norman, who is in his 30s, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge following the stabbing on Bury Road, Thetford, on 10 March.

Mr Price told the trial, at Norwich Crown Court, that despite standing at 6ft 4in (1.9m) tall, he was as "weak as a kipper" and scared that ex-serviceman Mr Norman, was going to hurt the younger defendant.

He said he had been avoiding Mr Norman, who had served in Afghanistan, for four years when he bumped into him while walking to the shops.

"He looked me dead in the face and said 'teeth, teeth, teeth'," Mr Price told the jury.

"I’ve been bullied for years - I was born with messed up teeth.

"He followed me."

A video of Mr Price and Mr Norman shouting at each other was played to the court.

The other defendant ran towards Mr Norman, but Mr Price denied the prosecution's claim that it was a planned attack.

Mr Price said the day before the incident he had been making a catapult and had a "little craft knife" in his pocket and wore the same jacket the next day.

He was worried for the second defendant, and decided to "help". He put his hand on the knife in his pocket out of "fear" and to "bluff with it", judge Nicholas Ainley heard.

The teen said Mr Norman then punched him multiple times, injuring his nose and he "thought he was going to kill me".

Mr Price told the jury he stabbed Mr Norman to get him off the other defendant, but when asked how many times he had stabbed him, he replied, "don't know".

He said he loved the other defendant "more than anything in the world".

"I'm not letting anyone take him away from me," he added.

Asked if he was seen laughing or happy in the aftermath, he said, "no".

After the incident, Mr Price walked to Brandon, a town about five miles (8km) away from Thetford, because he "needed some time to think" and hid in a shed because of "people hunting me, [and] trying to kill me," he told the jury.

He got a lift to Kent and when arrested by police, he had shaved his head and gave a fake name, the court heard.

Mr Price has also denied causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and having an article with a bladed point.

The second defendant also denied causing GBH with intent.

The trial continues.

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