The jury in a murder trial was told today that they had to decide whether the death of a Rochester father-of five was a brutal killing, or was the result of self-defence.

The prosecution has claimed that George Knights, 19, was a callous murderer who plunged a dagger into the skull of Stephen Chapman before putting the body into a wheelie bin and covering it with acid.

But the teenager told the jury at Maidstone Crown Court that Mr Chapman had threatened to kill him and had acted in self-defence.

Judge Philip Statman spent all day summing up at the conclusion of the three week trial before they retired and were given a USB stick containing some of the evidence.

But he told them they were not being permitted to see the original photographs of Mr Chapman's body which was partially destroyed by sulphuric acid.

The partner of forklift driver Mr Chapman, Rebecca Leader gave birth on the first day of the murder trial.

Knights, of Delce Road, Rochester has denied murdering Mr Chapman in October last year after the two had met following a planned drugs exchange.

Mr Chapman failed to return that night and Ms Leader started a search with family and friends.

And after finding Knights' telephone number she called him on numerous occasions - but was told Mr Chapman had left after the two had met.

But the jury heard that after finding Ms Leader's car - which he had borrowed - parked nearby, friends of Mr Chapman forced their way into Knights' home.

Police later discovered his body in a wheelie bin soaked in acid.

The teenager, the son of a former Royal Marine, is accused of copying American TV series Breaking Bad, by killing a drug dealer and putting his body in acid.

Knights is alleged to have deliberately plunged a double-edged commando knife into the head of Mr Chapman.

He said that a few days before the killing he had a tattoo on his neck depicting a double-edged dagger and a snake - but denied that knives "excited" him.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry QC asked him: "Did you want people to look at that tattoo and think: 'That's not someone I want to mess with?"

Knights replied: "No...I just thought it would make me look older and a bit tougher."

Ms Carberry: "Did you fancy yourself as a gangster?"

Read more from this trial

• Murder accused plunged dagger into head of dad

• Victim showed partner picture of murder suspect moments before death

• Gas mask needed for dad's post-mortem

• Victim 'sent enforcer' to accused killer's house, court hears

• 'I thought of getting rid of his body like they do in breaking bad'

• Murder accused 'used TV drug kingpin's name to apply for driving licence'

Knights: "I don't think I was a gangster."

The prosecutor then questioned Knights about him using the name of a fictional drug dealer from Breaking Bad, "Walter White" as his memorable name when applying for a driver's licence.

He was asked why he had used it and replied: "Because I had seen Breaking Bad. I have watched all five seasons. I don't know why I used the name."

The prosecutor said that in the series, in Series 1 Episode 2, Jessie Pinkman (a character) puts a rival dealer in acid to dispose of the body.

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