A MURDERER claiming he was defending himself when he attacked a bookseller rushing at him with a blade had plenty of time to flee before the ‘violent’ rampage, jurors have been told.

Michael Danaher denies murdering 42-year-old Christ Church graduate Adrian Greenwood but insists he killed him in self-defence on April 6.

Taking to the stand today, consultant forensic pathologist Nicholas Hunt told Oxford Crown Court Danaher’s claims do not ‘adequately’ explain the multiple stab wounds he discovered on Mr Greenwood’s neck and chest.

The 50-year-old, of Hadrians Court, Peterborough, would have had ‘ample opportunity’ to drop the weapon or walk away from his victim, Dr Hunt continued.

The jury of eight men and four women heard Danaher believes the pair were arguing when Mr Greenwood fled to a room in his Iffley Road home, clenching a blade when he returned.

Danaher, who is left-handed, claims he grabbed the knife before ‘lashing out’ at Mr Greenwood while grasping the blade, jurors were told.

Dr Hunt said injuries spotted on Danaher’s left hand could have been caused by him defending himself, coming into contact with the knife or picking up the bloodied blade after the handle had snapped off in Mr Greenwood’s home.

But he went on to reveal he would have expected to see more serious injuries to Danaher’s palm if he had grabbed the blade, which was found at his flat.

Mr Greenwood sustained more than 40 injuries to his head, chest, neck, back and limbs, including 16 stab wounds, as well as more than 20 areas of bruising, grazing or scratches, Dr Hunt said.

A blade plunged deep into Mr Greenwood’s neck causing damage to one of his main veins, while a ‘potentially fatal’ stab wound into the back of his chest left him with a collapsed lung, Dr Hunt added.

Danaher may have stamped on his victim’s shoulder, breaking his arm, the pathologist revealed.

He continued: “It is the loss of blood which has played the major part in causing his death.”

Speaking about injuries prosecutors allege Danaher caused using just the tip of the blade, Dr Hunt said: “I have seen some injuries caused if somebody is trying perhaps to get information from somebody, prodding them with a degree of control over the weapon.”

While being quizzed by defence barrister Amjad Malik QC, Dr Hunt confirmed he found no evidence suggesting a stun gun discovered at Danaher’s flat had been used during the ‘assault’.

During the trial, jurors were told the alleged murder was sparked by Danaher’s interest in Mr Greenwood’s copy of The Wind in the Willows, worth about £50,000. 

The trial continues.