“I was shocked about what happened,” said the friend of an alleged murder-victim who was stabbed after attempting to steal a Cartier watch, a jury has heard.

Ryan Bryne, 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, of Arthray Road.

The pair were charged after Mr Bruce was stabbed five times on February 25 in College Lane, Littlemore after attempting to steal an expensive watch from the men. He later died on February 28 from his injuries.

READ MORE: Two men accused of killing man who attempted to steal Cartier watch

Both men are also charged with a Section 18 – wounding with intent of Brandon Day, who had met the men alongside Mr Bruce and a third friend called Iain Mulligan.

During the trial on Thursday (October 3), a prepared statement was read out from Mr Mulligan who wasn’t injured during the incident.

He said: “There were no conversations in the car about what was going to happen. We were in good spirits and everything was sound. [sic]

“I saw two males, one black male….and two white males. Tobias and Brandon were standing talking to the males, I was stood to the side of the wall. [sic]

“Everything was calm, there was no shouting at all. I didn’t really pay attention to exactly what was going on and it took my by surprise when Tobias started running.

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“I didn’t know the males and I have never seen them before. I ran up the stairs back towards Brandon’s car.

“In a panic, I ran past the car. Brandon pulled up by me and shouted at me to get in. Brandon was driving fast onto Cowley Road.

“I saw Tobias staggering in the road in College Lane, there was blood coming from his neck. It was clear Tobias wouldn’t make it to hospital.

“We both got out of the car and I told Brandon to apply pressure to his neck. I started to shout for help.

“Tobias thought he was going to die and I told him he wasn’t and kept kissing him on his head.

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“I was shocked about what happened to my friend.”

Mr Mulligan said he went home before later going to John Radcliffe Hospital to see his friends. He claims he was then arrested on suspicion of murder due to blood found on his clothing.

He concluded: “Tobias was a good man, he was family. He was more than a best friend to me, he was like a brother.

The trial continues.