Barnsley man accused of wielding two knives to murder neighbour claims he was only trying to scare victim
A man accused of grabbing two knives and stabbing a man to death outside his house claims he was only trying to scare his victim.
Callum Strachan, aged 23, denies murdering 41-year-old dad Alan Sutton in an incident on Burton Road, Monk Bretton, Barnsley, on September 1, 2024.
A jury heard Strachan was confronted by two neighbours over anti-social behaviour and allegedly threatening others who lived on the street, as Mr Sutton - whom the prosecutor called a man who “posed no threat” - watched on.
CCTV reportedly shows Strachan throwing a bicycle at the three men before going back inside his home.
Then, after a moment of apparent calm in which the three men turned to leave, Strachan allegedly emerged armed with two knives, chased them around a corner, and stabbed Mr Sutton to death after he fell to the ground.
Today, (February 11) at Sheffield Crown Court, Strachan took to the witness box to claim the three men had “attacked his house” and he was only trying to scare them, and that he wasn’t aware he had stabbed the 41-year-old dad at all.
His case is he ran out the house with “both knives held out” and “collided” with Sutton, and was unaware he had injured him.
Prosecutor Sharon Beattie KC brushed Strachan’s claims aside and showed him CCTV of a man emerging from his house and carrying out the attack.
“There you are, going for [one of the men], armed with two knives,” said Ms Beattie, referring to the footage.
“They are nowhere near your house. No one attacked your house.
“They did nothing to threaten you, did they? To make you need to defend yourself?
“And you don’t have an answer because you know full well there was no need to go and get two knives. There was no reason for it at all.”
Strachan’s reply to deny this did not rise above a mumble. During his evidence, Strachan was repeatedly asked to raise his voice, as neither the judge, the jury or the barristers could hear his answers.
He claimed he was not aware or had even noticed he had fatally stabbed Mr Sutton twice in the chest and neck.
The jury was shown partial CCTV footage of the attack, as well as footage of him reportedly striking a woman on another occasion. He was also questioned over a confrontation on June 15 that year.
“I’m going to suggest that you’re a violent person, who threatens violence, and uses violence,” said Ms Beattie.
“No,” said Strachan.
The court previously heard Strachan ran back to his house and attempted to hide the knives, which were later discovered by police in kitchen drawers with evidence of Mr Sutton’s DNA.
It was also explained to jurors that a man was seen hitting the windows of what appeared to be Strachan’s house, however witnesses who reported this also reported seeing a body on the road - suggesting that it occurred after Mr Sutton had already been stabbed, the prosecutor surmised.
Mr Sutton had been carrying a grey extendable baton that was ‘tucked up his sleeve’ on the day, he but was not seen at any point trying to take it out.
The trial continues.