Court Man ‘ambushed and stabbed his friend’

AMAN ambushed his friend by thrusting a large blade completely through his body, a court has been told. It is claimed Kerr Somers lay in wait for Nathan Jones, in Leinster Avenue, Knowle West, after the pair had a fight in a pub. Witnesses told of hearing Somers scream: “Next time I’ll cut your f-ing head off!” The 29-year-old, of Bloomfield Road in Brislington, denies murdering 39-year-old Nathan on January 12. Anna Vigars QC, prosecuting, said Nathan was going out with Somers’ cousin Katie Dowse. She said on the night in question they had all been at the New Found Out pub in Totterdown when a fight broke out between Nathan and Somers. It is claimed in the course of the melee Nathan was hit by somebody else and went down to the ground, the jury heard. Mrs Vigars said after the incident Somers was taken from the scene by his girlfriend Daisy Rands. The court was told Nathan then left the pub with others and went to where Somers was in Leinster Avenue. It is claimed Somers waited behind a hedge with a large blade and, when Nathan got out of a car, attacked him. Mrs Vigars said he stabbed him once, through his abdomen. The jury was also told others in Nathan’s party found Somers screaming at Nathan: “Next time I’ll cut your f-ing head off!” Paramedics called to the scene battled, but failed, to save Nathan’s life. The court heard it appeared Nathan was stabbed in the back and the blade emerged at his front. When interviewed by police Somers made no comment. The jury was also told police covertly recorded prison visits in which Somers talked about stabbing Nathan in the back. He said he paralysed Nathan, causing him to bleed out. He talked about being a “scared man with children in the house” and said his “story” would be that Nathan called him out for a fight. The court was told Somers said: “It’s me and him, and he’s dead. There’s not witnesses to say different.” New Found Out bar worker Maria Vowles gave a statement to the court saying on the day in question Somers was drinking there at 4.30pm. Around 6.30pm Nathan arrived with his girlfriend, who was “eight-and-a-half out of ten drunk”. Around 11.30pm Nathan and Somers started fighting, the court heard. The men threw stools at each other, before Somers left with his girlfriend Daisy. Dylan Gristwood gave a statement saying he was “tipsy” on the night in question. Mr Gristwood said he and a mate went to the New Found Out and saw Nathan with Somers’ female cousin, who was drunk. He said Nathan was not treating Somers’ cousin right, and a fight broke out. Witness Samantha Flook said Nathan had just been released from prison when he was at the pub with Somers’ cousin Katie. She said Somers was also there and he took Katie off as she was drunk. Miss Flook said Nathan and Somers had a fight and Somers left the scene. She recounted how she, Nathan and others then drove to Inns Court, but Nathan jumped out of the car in Leinster Avenue, Knowle West. She said she then saw Nathan on the ground, with Somers on top of him with what appeared to be a stick – which she said turned out to be a long blade. The case continues.

❝ It’s me and him, and he’s dead. There’s not witnesses to say different Somers, recorded by police