A murder trial has been delayed for ‘reasons the court cannot go into’, 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.

The trial has been delayed on Thursday (October 10) and cannot go ahead.

The jury were told the case has been delayed until Friday (October 11) for reasons the court ‘cannot go into’.

Byrne is in the middle of giving his evidence.

The jury heard earlier in the trial that both men are arguing self-defence.

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

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

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

The trial is expected to continue this morning (Friday).