Sheffield drug-user admits playing a part in the death of stab victim Jordan Marples-Douglas

A Sheffield Crown Court trial has heard how Ben Jones, aged 26, formerly of Archdale Road, Manor, Sheffield, and his step-brother Aaron Johnson, aged 22, of Mawfa Crescent, Norton, Sheffield, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23-year-old Jordan Marples-Douglas at his home on Woodthorpe Road, near Richmond, Sheffield.

Kath Goddard QC, prosecuting, claimed Mr Marples-Douglas died as a result of a drug-debt owed to Mr Johnson and an arrangement had allegedly been made for Mr Jones and another man – who is still at large - to enforce the debt.

Although Ben Jones has denied being an enforcer, he accepted he is guilty of manslaughter after he threw a punch which started a fracas on March 6, 2020, that resulted in Mr Marples-Douglas suffering a significant wound penetrating his chest.

Mr Jones told the jury he had only been visiting Mr Marples-Douglas to buy drugs from him when Mr Marples-Douglas became upset that he had another man with him and Mr Jones lost his temper and struck Mr Marples-Douglas.

Mr Jones told a jury on March 24: “He was talking to me like I was an idiot and I lost my temper and smacked him. I punched him in the face.”

Mr Marples-Douglas ran to the kitchen sink, according to Mr Jones, and grabbed something and Mr Jones’s friend punched Mr Marples-Douglas who was chased into a bedroom.

Mr Jones claimed Mr Marples-Douglas had a “Rambo” knife and Mr Jones’s friend had a lock knife and they swung at each other before Mr Jones’s friend punched Mr Marples-Douglas.

Mr Jones added that he had struggled to get the knife off Mr Marples-Douglas as he was lying on it but when he got the knife he “poked” Mr Marples-Douglas in the face with the weapon to stop him shouting for his dog.

He said Mr Marples-Douglas tried to grab him by the throat so he punched him twice.

Mr Jones also claimed he did not know Mr Marples-Douglas had suffered several stab wounds and claimed he had not stabbed him and had never intended to kill him or cause him serious harm.

But Mr Jones admitted his initial punch led to a confrontation which led to Mr Marples-Douglas’s death and he accepted he is guilty of manslaughter.

The court heard Mr Jones took a bracelet and a phone but he added he had not gone to the property to rob Mr Marples-Douglas.

Ms Goddard claimed Mr Jones’s friend went to his girlfriend Dina Aweimrin’s home and told her family he was going away because he had a poorly relative.

Ms Aweimrin arranged travel for her boyfriend from Manchester to Dubai, according to Ms Goddard, from where he is believed to have flown to Somalia and remains at large.

Ms Aweimrin, aged 22, of Oakdale Road, Nether Edge, Sheffield, has pleaded not guilty to assisting an alleged offender.

Mr Johnson declined to answer questions from the police.

Ms Aweimrin claims she thought her boyfriend had to leave because of an ill relative and claimed she did not know Mr Marples-Douglas had been killed.

The trial continues.

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