Murder victim Reagan Asbury was 'surrounded by rival fans'

Harry Woods said he was with Reagan Asbury when a brawl spilled into the street outside Walsall Town Hall, where the 19-year-old was wounded.

Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court, the witness said he was scouring the area for his friends when he spotted Mr Asbury 'surrounded' by men.

He said: "They were bopping, like getting into a fighting stance. There were four lads in front of us, bopping. Something got thrown, I ducked.

"When I turned back around, Reagan had already been stabbed."

Prosecutors allege 21-year-old Tyrone Andrew murdered Mr Asbury, from Pelsall, by stabbing him while outside the town hall on October 14 last year.

Spectators filled the Leicester Street hall for the IBF Youth World Lightweight title between local man Luke Paddock and Derby-based Myron Mills before fighting began.

Mr Woods said during the match he had seen security guards walking towards Derby fans sitting on a nearby table as they were being 'rowdy'.

Chairs were flung across the venue, and the group of friends separated as fans were ushered out of the town hall.

Mr Woods was walking towards the foyer as he left the building when he spotted four men standing outside near Mr Asbury, the jury heard on Monday.

He added: "There was a confrontation. I told them to move. They were bopping towards me. You feel threatened if someone's doing that."

Jurors heard how moments later Mr Woods discovered his friend had been stabbed and quickly took his T-Shirt off to hold against the wound.

Mr Woods added: "He was holding his neck, stumbling towards the stairs to the town hall."

Prosecutors allege Derby fan Andrew, of St Helen’s Street, Derby, also wounded two others and attempted to stab a fourth man during the incident.

Co-defendants Declan Kemp-Francis, 23, of Dickens Square, Sunny Hill, Derby, and Lavelle Patrice, 22, of Heavenwood Grove, Littleover, Derby, are both charged with violent disorder.

Ryandeep Singh, 22, of Lidgate Close, Derby, is accused of assisting Andrew by taking possession of the alleged murder weapon.

Kemp-Francis is also charged with assisting Andrew by driving him away from the scene.

All four deny all the charges. The trial continues.