Louis Simpson murder: Wolverhampton accused 'cut through bone'

Under cross examination from prosecution barrister Debbie Gould QC, Dylan Jackson claimed he had no idea he had even made contact when he stabbed Herman 'Louis' Simpson six times, despite the gruesome extent of his injuries.

The fateful night on April 13 saw Mr Simpson stabbed to death in his flat in Compton Road, Compton, Wolverhampton, by Jackson after he tried to swindle him out of cash by selling him fake drugs.

Jackson, aged 20, from Crosby Close, Whitmore Reans, claims he acted out of self defence after Simpson, aged 47, pulled a gun on him.

Miss Gould said to Jackson: "When you realised what you had done, you were very anxious to flee, weren't you?"

He replied: "I didn't realise I'd made contact with him."

But Miss Gould continued: "The pathologist said in his report that the fatal blow to Mr Simpson's heart cut through bone. Tore through muscle. You surely must have realised what you had done."

But he said: "I was just stabbing at him, I didn't know I'd connected."

She went on: "When you plunged the knife into Mr Simpson, you wanted to get away as quickly as you could, didn't you?"

But he still insisted he didn't know how serious Simpson's injuries were, and thought the police were seeking him to speak about a separate matter.

Miss Gould pressed Jackson to reveal the name of the friend who gave him a lift from Compton to Whitmore Reans shortly after the stabbing.

She said: "Surely this friend will be able to corroborate what you're saying, and if what you say is true, he wouldn't be incriminated."

Jackson refused to give the identity of the man, saying: "It's got nothing to do with him, I would rather not give that information."

Defence barrister David Mason then asked Jackson: "It has been suggested that you took the gun with the intention of selling it. Would you know how to sell it and who to?"

Jackson replied: "No, that never crossed my mind."

Mr Mason continued: "It has been suggested that you went there with he intention of robbing Mr Simpson, meaning to cause or threaten physical violence in order to take from somebody, did you do that?" Jackson said: "No it was never what I intended to do."

Finally, Mr Mason asked: "Did you have any idea of the damage you had caused? Jackson said: "None whatsoever."

Jackson denies murder. The trial continues.