Norwich murder accused 'only intended to scare victim'

Theodore Lynch, 41, has gone on trial for murder after getting into an argument with Leslie Smith at his flat in Suffolk Square, Norwich, during which Mr Smith was fatally stabbed.

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Norwich Crown Court has heard Lynch had gone to Mr Smith's flat to give him money to buy drugs.

But later on, the pair rowed after Lynch was told the victim returned without any drugs.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Giving evidence on Friday, Lynch, who wore a grey suit and white trainers, told Ed Renvoize, defending, he had not intended to harm Mr Smith with the knife.

He said he had wanted to scare him into going to get his drugs and cannot remember how a knife ended up going into Mr Smith's neck.

Mr Renvoize asked: "Did you intend to kill him?"

Lynch said: "No."

He was asked: "Did you intend to harm him?"

Lynch said: "No."

The defendant was asked whether he intended to scare Mr Smith into going to get your drugs?

Lynch replied: "Yes".

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)The jury of eight women and three men heard that in October 2021 Lynch had been taking drugs and was addicted to heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis.

He said he had been going into Norwich with Alaina Pitcher, a former partner, on October 5 2021, to "score some more drugs".

Lynch said he was friends with Mr Smith and remembered him from when they were both in prison "in about 2014".

The court heard Lynch had gone to Mr Smith's flat on the afternoon of October 5 telling him he was "after some drugs" and asked Mr Smith if he could get some.

Mr Smith left to go and get some drugs, having been given some cash, leaving Lynch and Miss Pitcher at the flat.

Lynch thought Mr Smith was going to be gone about 30 to 45 minutes and planned to have a "good time" drinking and taking drugs when he returned.

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)But after about four hours, Lynch wondered where Mr Smith was and became "a bit ratty".

When Mr Smith did return he told Lynch and Miss Pitcher "he never had it".

Lynch said he took that to mean Mr Smith had "smoked the drugs and spent the money".

He said he started arguing with Mr Smith and the three of them were "all shouting together" inside the flat about the money and the drugs.

Lynch said he and Mr Smith were "sizing each other up".

He said he asked Mr Smith: "What are you playing at? Where's my money? Where's my drugs?"

Lynch grabbed a small kitchen knife from Miss Pitcher and had hold of Mr Smith with one hand and with the other "held the knife to his throat".

Suffolk Square, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Asked by Mr Renvoize what he was intending to do, Lynch said: "I wanted to get my money and my drugs."

Lynch said he "can't remember" how it was the knife ended up in Mr Smith's neck.

Mr Renvoize said: "Were you intending to use the knife to harm Mr Smith?"

Lynch replied: "No."

Asked whether he was intending for the knife to make contact with Mr Smith's neck, Lynch replied: "No."

Lynch said he did not know the knife had "gone into his neck".

The defendant was asked whether, when he left the flat, he realised Mr Smith was "dying or going to die".

The defendant said: "I didn't, no."

Following the row Lynch was captured on CCTV "running" from the area.

Mr Smith's decomposing body was not found until 12 days later after neighbours reported a bad smell.

Lynch, of no fixed address, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.

The trial continues.