A Thanet man murdered his love rival after taunting him about "sleeping with his missus", it has been alleged.

John Buchanan, 21, threw a knife through the open window of a car being driven by 40-year-old Michael Ward, who was also known as Archie.

The blade pierced his right leg, severing an artery, a jury at Canterbury Crown Court has been told.

Buchanan has pleaded not guilty to murder, which is alleged to have happened near his home in St John’s Crescent in Newington, Ramsgate, in June last year.

The jury was told Buchanan will say he was acting in lawful self-defence when he threw
the knife.

The court heard Mr Ward was the father of two children by Hannah Blake, who was in a relationship with Buchanan.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC claimed Buchanan and Mr Ward "did not get on" and their frequent arguments were witnessed by mutual friends.

He alleged: “On one occasion a friend of Buchanan, Adam Lowery, overheard a telephone conversation between the two men.

“Mr Ward threatened Buchanan, saying he would 'kick John from one end of Newington to the other'.

“The same friend said Buchanan would give as good as he got."

The prosecutor claimed another friend, Carlana Berry, heard Buchanan goading his rival by saying things like "I’m sh****** your missus".

On June 18, Mr Lowery and Buchanan went to the home of Hannah Blake in St John's Crescent at midday.

Mr Bennetts added: "They spent some time drinking rum and coke before joining neighbours Ms Berry and Lee Smith who were preparing to have a barbecue.

"Buchanan said that Mr Ward was coming over and Mr Smith said he didn’t want any trouble with his kids about.

“Buchanan said: ’I’ll f*** him. I’ll f*** him. I’ll f*** him. I’ll stab him.’ Mr Smith repeated what he said and Buchanan said: 'Oh no I won’t. I won’t do that'," he claimed.

As Mr Ward drove past the house, Buchanan is alleged to have picked up the knife and said: ‘Oh f*** it. I’m going to stab him.”

After putting the weapon down, Ms Blake spoke to Mr Ward in his car as Buchanan is alleged to have stood near the kitchen window “waving a knife and goading Archie”.

The prosecutor said Mr Ward then got out of the car and ran towards Buchanan, who went into the house and put the security chain on.

"I threw the knife because I was scared. I did not mean to cause Archie serious harm..." - Buchanan, in police interview

Mr Bennetts claimed that as Mr Ward returned to his car, Buchanan appeared outside and threw the knife from about five metres away.

He said: "The knife went through the open passenger’s door window. Mr Ward was seen to lift the knife and there was blood on it.

"He drove off and Mr Smith said: 'That sounds like a main artery' and Buchanan replied: 'Hopefully he’s f****** dead!'."

Mr Ward managed to drive to the next road, Bush Avenue, before collapsing in the garden of number 5 where he was found by a passerby. He died later that night from his injury.

Neighbour Carlana Berry told the jury how Buchanan took refuge inside her home after the confrontation with his rival.

She said: "He then went to the front door. I saw him holding one of my knives. I saw him wave it at Archie who was outside.

"He told Archie he was going to stab him up. I remember Archie getting back into his car. He said 'I'm not dealing with this today' and he got back into his car and started the engine. John then threw a knife at him."

The knife went through the passenger window and Archie drove off. He then lost control of the steering wheel and swerved.

"Buchanan said 'hopefully he is dead'," she told the jury.

In police interview, Buchanan said: “Archie came bursting into the house and threatened me. He threw something at me. It hit the side of my head. I curled up in a ball on the floor ready to take a beating.

“I was very frightened. Archie went outside and got back in his car. He then got out again. I saw he had a knife in his hand. I thought he was coming towards me.

“He got back in the car and I saw a knife on the window sill. It was the first thing that came to hand. I threw it at the car and shut the front door. I threw the knife because I was scared. I did not mean to cause Archie serious harm."

Neighbour Cassandra Holt told how Mr Ward stormed into the house where Buchanan was.

She said: "I ran in after him and told him to leave. I don't know how I did it but he left and got into his car.

"I shouted 'No' because I saw John had a knife in his hand. And he throws it. I didn't see where it landed."

The trial continues.