THE brother of a man who was stabbed to death saw a drug dealer produce a knife from his sleeve after he tried to clear up a dispute over a debt, a court heard.

Giving evidence at Chelmsford Crown Court, Robert Brown said he travelled from Braintree to Colchester late on an evening in May 2019.

Mr Brown said he had travelled with his brother, Murdoch Brown, 31, and he had to “sort some money out” as part of a drug debt.

Mr Brown said he owed £290 to a drug dealer he knew as JR.

He said his brother had decided to come with him “to make sure he was alright.”

“A few days before I had been found on a bench apparently overdosing,” he said.

“I was in a critical condition.”

The court heard after the pair arrived at Colchester North Station, they began their walk towards the Greenstead estate, stopping at a McDonald’s on the way.

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Mr Brown confirmed he then intended to get some drugs before the two brothers visited a friend’s address in Greenstead, where they were to stay for the night.

He said he made a phone call to JR and a meeting was arranged on the estate. 

The two brothers walked to Greenstead and waited in Avon Way, at the junction with Buffett Way.

Mr Brown said “two lads” appeared around the corner.

He identified one of the individuals as a male he knew only as “Jack”, and the other as a young, black male he did not know, aged around 17.

“Jack said ‘come on, let’s go’, and gestured for us to come down Buffett Way,” he said.

Mr Brown said he explained to “Jack” he had been unable to pay his debt as as he had been in hospital for “a couple of days.”

He told the jury he handed over hospital paperwork as “proof”, before requesting £20 worth of crack cocaine and heroin.

It was then that Mr Brown claims he saw “Jack” produce a knife from his sleeve.

He describes grappling with “Jack”, and said he and his brother ran away from the scene in different directions.

As he stumbled and fell, he heard his brother shout “leave it out, that’s enough.”

Murdoch Brown died after he was stabbed three times in the leg.

Read more >>> Murdoch Brown tried to help brother with drug debt

Three people were charged with Mr Brown’s murder and are standing trial.

Toyn Williams, 29, of Winchester Road, Hale End, in east London, Jay Dice, 23, of Mayville, Leyonstone, and Reece McHutcherson, 20, of Pillow Way, Buckingham, deny the charge.

Williams, Dice and McHutcherson also deny attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Robert Brown.

Kaley Hodgkinson, 31 of Charles Pell Road, Colchester, is standing trial charged with assisting an offender.

Hodgkinson, Dice and McHutcherson are also charged with perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.