An Ipswich man allegedly confessed to a friend that he had stabbed father-of-five Dean Stansby but hadn’t meant to kill him, a court has heard.
Tecwyn Parker, who is one of four men accused of murdering 41-year-old Mr Stansby in February last year, also allegedly told the woman that it was a relief to tell someone what he had done, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
In a defence opening speech to the jury today Paul Keleher, for Daniel Kaganda, said the jury would have to decide if the witness’ evidence was true and whether or not Parker had confessed to stabbing Mr Stansby.
Mr Keleher told the court that Kaganda accepted he had been recruited as a runner by a drug organisation known as AJ and Sky to bring heroin and cocaine to Ipswich.
He said at the time of Mr Stansby’s murder Kaganda had been using a flat in Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich, as a base and would send out “runners” such as Parker to deliver drugs.
Mr Keleher claimed that Mr Stansby seemed to have a reputation as a “robber of drug dealers” and alleged that he was known to Parker but not to Kaganda.
Mr Keleher told the jury that Parker’s sister had allegedly told police that he carried a knife and had been to her house the night before Mr Stansby was stabbed.
Before the court are Jason Ruby, 45, of Risby Close, Ipswich, Tecwyn Parker, 48, formerly of Downside Close, Ipswich, Daniel Kaganda, 24, of London and Amiadul Islam, 25, of London.
All four have denied murdering Mr Stansby on February 8 last year.
Ruby has also denied conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine between November 10 and July 6, 2017.
It has been alleged that Mr Stansby was stabbed in Ancaster Road, Ipswich, to “teach him a lesson” for trying to rob Mr Parker of drugs.
The court has heard that Mr Stansby came into Ipswich on the evening of his death to buy drugs from the AJ and Sky ring.
Jacob Hallam, prosecuting, said it appeared that Parker, Ruby and Kaganda had gone to confront Mr Stansby in retaliation for an earlier incident in which he had allegedly tried to rob Parker of some drugs.
He claimed that Islam was in telephone contact with Parker, Kaganda and Ruby during the confrontation.
The trial continues.
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