Wolverhampton martial arts expert 'stabbed former soldier to death in drug-fuelled rage'

Thai boxer Troy Ktori, aged 27 and originally from Heath Town, allegedly contacted an escort agency just hours after murdering Charles McInally, 55, following a day of drinking in Birmingham last August.

Opening the case at Birmingham Crown Court, Adrian Keeling QC said Ktori flew into a drink and drug-fuelled rage when told his girlfriend had been propositioned by Mr McInally and another man Carl Martin.

After slashing Mr Martin on the hand, it was alleged Ktori knifed Mr McInally through the throat cutting his carotid artery.

Originally from Dundee and a former member of 11 Signals Regiment, the ex-serviceman was found dead on his sofa in a pool of blood on August 7.

Ktori, of Shenstone Road, Edgbaston, was a world champion Thai Boxer at the age of 12 and had spoken on local news in 2013 about turning his life around after a conviction for an assault, the court heard.

Mr Keeling told the jury: "It was a single, skilful, stab that entered through the bottom of his chin and passed into his throat.

"The defendant had gone there to confront and attack Charles McInally because of what had happened a few hours before that.

"Fuelled by drink and cocaine he went to (Mr McInally's) home and with a single strike of the knife thrust it into his neck and killed him."

The jury was told railway engineer Mr McInally and his housemate Carl Martin had starting drinking with Ktori, his girlfriend Crystal Jeffries and their friend Matthew Roper on August 7 last year at the Seven Stars pub in Birmingham.

Eventually all five went to Mr McInally's Brewers Square home in Edgbaston to continue drinking.

During the afternoon Ktori, Roper and Mr Martin left the house to buy cocaine.

It was shortly after, said Mr Keeling, the mood of the party soured and Ktori punched Mr Martin twice in the face before walking out and heading home.

It was later that evening, after she had also left the party, Jeffries told Ktori she had been asked to take part in a 'threesome' with Mr McInally and Mr Martin.

Flying into a rage, Ktori walked back to Mr McInally's house and arrived at around 9.40pm.

When Mr Martin opened the door it was said Ktori lunged at him with a knife pulled from the waistband of his jeans.

Deflecting the blow with his hand, Mr Martin fled through the house, chased by the martial artist.

It was in the living room it was alleged he stabbed Mr McInally through the throat before fleeing the scene, knife in hand.

Mr Keeling said: "He was there only two-and-a-half minutes, he needed no more than that period of time."

After the killing Ktori, Jeffries and Roper then went to another friend's home in the city where more drink and drugs were consumed.

Telephone evidence also showed Ktori had been in contact with an escort agency called 'Lush Escorts'.

Mr Keeling said: "That he did that within a few hours of killing someone might give you real and disturbing insight at quite how distressing, or not, this man found what had happened or what he had done."

Ktori, Jeffries and Roper all went on the run the following day, hiding in the Malvern Hills in Warwickshire.

They eventually handed themselves into police in Leadbury on August 13.

The jury were shown a television interview with Ktori from June 2013 in which he spoke of turning his life around after an assault conviction.

Taking part in an entrepreneur scheme in the Heath Town area, Ktori had said of his time in prison: "It was the hardest time in my life, I never want to go back.

"I was in Wales and some geezer threw beer in my face and I assaulted him, I retaliated."

Ktori also denies a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempted wounding with intent against Mr Martin.

The trial continues.