Man stabbed nine times, court told

Speaking at Sheffield Crown Court today, Mr Smith's brother Ben Smith (22) described how he and Philip, along with two other men, went to McKeown's house on Church Street, Thurnscoe, armed with two cricket bats and a baseball bat.

They had gone to seek a 'proper fight' after McKeown had bitten Ben Smith's eyebrow during an incident earlier in the day when both the defendant and his nephew, also named Gary McKeown, had produced knives.

Philip Smith (36) followed the defendant into his kitchen where they began to wrestle and Mr Smith was repeatedly stabbed before being held down by McKeown and slashed across the face.

Mr Smith's brother and a friend dragged him out onto the pavement where he collapsed. He was taken to Barnsley Hospital where he was pronounced dead on January 28.

McKeown (37) denies murder and when interviewed, told police that he acted in self defence.

The trial continues.