A man killed a flatmate after a "pointless argument" about where a new vacuum cleaner should be stored, a court heard.

Victim Pavel Vanek and his brother Tomas wanted to keep the Hoover in Milos Louzecky's room because it was bigger.

"That unlikely item was to spark an argument which led us to where we are today," prosecutor Simon Edwards told a jury.

Louzecky, 47, ended up stabbing Mr Vanek, who was 29, in the side. He collapsed and attempts to save his life failed.

Tomas claimed Louzecky threatened to kill him if he did not back up his story that a stranger had killed the victim.

He did so at first but then told police Louzecky had killed his brother.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the three Czech men had on April 19 this year been to a beach in Sheerness. The brothers were drinking, while Louzecky was not.

They returned to the flat in West Street, Blue Town, Sheerness, with the Hoover and there was discussion about where it should be kept.

"It became bad tempered," said Mr Edwards. "Pavel called the defendant a stupid idiot. This rather pointless argument descended into a physical confrontation in the defendant's bedroom."

They came to blows as Tomas tried to separate them, but Louzecky eventually thrust the knife deep into Pavel's left side.

Louzecky denies murder.

The trial continues.