Two men accused of murdering an Oxford man after he tried to steal their designer watch are expected to argue self-defence, a jury has heard.

Ryan Byrne, 24, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and George Stephens, 27, of no fixed abode, are on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with murdering Tobias Bruce, 32.

Mr Bruce, of Arthray Road, died from five stab wounds after the incident in College Lane, Littlemore at about 6.05pm on Sunday, February 25.

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He was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital on February 28.

Both men are also charged with a Section 18 – wounding with intent of Brandon Day, who was taken to hospital alongside Mr Bruce.

During the trial opening on Tuesday (October 1), prosecutor John Benson KC explained that both men are expected to argue the incident was one of self-defence.

Mr Benson KC said that the men, alongside a third named Theodore Mullings-Fairweather, had met Mr Bruce and Mr Day to sell them a Cartier watch.

However, the duo had ran off with the watch with Byrne chasing Mr Bruce and Stephen chasing Mr Day.

TRIAL OPENING: Two men accused of killing man who attempted to steal Cartier watch

Byrne is expected to say that he chased Mr Bruce who had then allegedly produced a knife and the defendant had ‘just protected himself’.

“He saw blood and panicked and ran off,” said Mr Benson KC.

Stephen is expected to say that Mr Day had ‘pulled out’ a knife and ‘there was a struggle’.

“He managed to disarm him [Mr Day] but in the struggle, he stabbed him once in self-defence and had not intended to cause him harm,” said Mr Benson KC.

The jury heard that Byrne is expected to ‘suggest’ that Mullings-Fairweather had more involvement in the incident than himself.

However, Mullings-Fairweather is currently believed to be in Dubai which the prosecution state was an ‘attempt to evade investigation’.

It was heard he sent an email to his solicitor in April ‘protesting his innocence’.

In reference to Byrne’s expected defence, Mr Benson KC told the jury they may think it’s ‘convenient’ that he has ‘blamed someone not present in court’.

Summarising his opening the to jury, Mr Benson KC concluded: “You can be in no doubt that Bruce was intent on stealing the watch and theft of a watch is a serious matter.

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“But theft is not the most serious of offences in the criminal calendar – the offence of murder is.”

Mr Benson KC told the jury the watch has never been recovered so it’s exact price is unknown.

The trial continues today (Wednesday, October 2).