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I didn’t kill my dad, says teenager

A FORMER Mr Kent body-building champion was stabbed to death on his birthday by his teenage son after an all-day drinking binge, a court heard on Monday.

Michael Onyett had been celebrating his 49th birthday on December 22 last year when he was allegedly murdered by 18-year-old Luke.

Mr Onyett suffered several stab wounds and one, measuring 10cm deep, severed a main artery in his thigh. He died due to loss of blood.

Onyett, who was wearing a blue sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, denies murder.

The pair lived together in Oak Road, Gravesend, but had spent the day with what were described as self-confessed alcoholics at a flat in Cobham Street, Gravesend.

When police searched it two days later they found 15 cans of lager, two bottles of wine, a bottle of Baileys and a two-litre bottle of cider, all empty.

John Hillen, prosecuting, said Mr Onyett was also an alcoholic and his son, despite his age, a heavy-drinker.

The jury was told there was a "mutual lack of respect" between father and son and they often swore at and verbally abused each other. But, until that day, they had never been violent towards one another.

Blood tests revealed Mr Onyett to have enough alcohol in his body to be almost four times the legal drink-drive limit. His son was found to be just over three times the limit.

That evening Onyett and his father began to argue in front of friends, including Keith Law and Robert Jordan. They began to argue and push each other. Onyett was then seen to be holding a 12in long knife taken from the kitchen.

Onyett allegedly stabbed his father in the thigh and then continued to stab him after he fell to the floor, said Mr Hillen.

"At some point, either in his frenzy or in a later attack of self-harm, Luke Onyett stabbed himself in the leg,"said Mr Hillen.

Mr Law and Mr Jordan both tried to resuscitate Mr Onyett, but he was bleeding profusely. Onyett, the court was told, was saying: "I can't believe I have just done that."

He then went to a neighbouring flat belonging to Geraldine Medhurst still holding the knife. He told her to call an ambulance as he had stabbed his father, the trial heard.

When the police arrived Onyett was walking in the middle of Cobham Street, one of his hands covered in blood. He was arrested for attempted murder and had tears in his eyes, said Mr Hillen.

Later, when being treated for his own cut, Onyett was told his father was dead and he was now being arrested for murder.

Mr Hillen said the Crown’s case was that Onyett murdered his father. Onyett also denies wounding Mr Jordan with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.

The trial continues.

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