THE defence lawyer in the Blayne Ridgway murder trial yesterday accused another man of killing the father-of-one.
Nicholas Rhodes QC said John Amadason, who was at the murder scene, had both the “motive and opportunity” to stab Mr Ridgway.
Mr Ridgway collapsed outside Que Pasa in Queen Street, Oxford, in the early hours of Saturday, May 8, after he was fatally stabbed in the heart and liver.
The 17-year-old defendant, who the Oxford Mail is banned from naming, denies murder.
Yesterday, Mr Rhodes told the jury at Oxford Crown Court Mr Amadason – known as Dwayne – took Mr Ridgway’s necklace after he was attacked, which he later admitted to police he had done for safekeeping.
Mr Ridgway’s blood was also found on Mr Amadason, who said he hugged the victim after he was stabbed to help stem the bleeding.
Mr Rhodes said: “In this type of case, the defence will of course always try to find who was responsible.
“Here we have somebody (Amadason) who had both the opportunity and, by inference, the motive.
“The defendant’s actions are described by witnesses and are not consistent with the wounds inflicted. Dwayne’s actions are not supported by any of the witnesses. How is it that he had so much of Blayne’s blood on him?”
Mr Amadason was called as a prosecution witness earlier in the trial.
Earlier, Ben Gumpert, prosecuting, told the jury unless eye witnesses were suffering from an “extraordinary outbreak of mass delusion”, the defendant must have stabbed Mr Ridgway.
Judge Anthony King will begin his summing up on Monday morning.
The case continues.
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