by Keith Hunt

An elderly man was stabbed to death because his alleged killer believed he was responsible for the break up of his relationship, a court heard.

It was claimed that David Alberto went to the Ramsgate home of 64-year-old John Joyce, pictured right, and inflicted 11 major wounds, penetrating his heart, a lung and his liver.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Alberto, 32, had been in a relationship with Joanne Kurn, who was pregnant with his child at the time of Mr Joyce’s death.

Christopher May, prosecuting, said there was a background of violence by Alberto towards mother-of-three Miss Kurn, which led to them separating.

"The defendant, however, appears in some way to have blamed Mr Joyce, who was never any more than a good friend to Joanne Kurn," he said.

"He seems to have blamed him to some extent for the separation. Matters reached a point where the defendant had made threats to kill Mr Joyce.

"In due course, the Crown say, that is what he did."

Mr May said the relationship was not an exclusive one, as he had also been seeing another woman, Christine Sattar.

Alberto lived in Albert Street, Newington, close to Miss Kurn’s home. Miss Sattar lived in Park Lane, Birchington.

Mr May said Mr Joyce, of Conyngham Close, Ramsgate, was of small build, being 5ft 4in tall and weighing seven stone. Miss Kurn had known him for about 13 years and saw him as a father figure.

On July 3 last year, Alberto went to Miss Kurn’s home and Mr Joyce told him to go away.

The prosecutor said Alberto told Mr Joyce: "You are the problem. If you were not around things would be better. I am going to kill you."

The next day, there was another incident and Alberto said of Mr Joyce: "That’s another one who should be dead and gone."

Mr May said matters were escalating and the level of violence was building up in Alberto which resulted in "tragic and fatal consequences".

Mr Joyce was last seen outside his flat on July 7 smoking a cigarette. His body was discovered on the kitchen floor the next day.

The trial continues.