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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Rachel Smith & Paige Oldfield

Dad killed in stabbing screamed 'he's got a knife' during scuffle with daughter's ex, court hears

A dad-of-two was allegedly stabbed to death by his daughter's ex-boyfriend during a scuffle in his garden, a court heard.

Mark Webster, 50, suffered fatal knife wounds during the incident at his home in Carsluith Avenue on July 23 last year.

Levi Westhead, 18, stands trial at Preston Crown Court, accused of Mr Webster's murder.

The teenager, of Flakefleet Avenue, Fleetwood, denies the allegation, Lancs Live reports.

Speaking over video link, Mr Webster's widow Michelle told the jury her 15-year-old daughter was in relationship with Westhead which started during lockdown. The pair would spend hours messaging each other and on FaceTime calls.

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When Covid restrictions allowed, Westhead would visit the family home and see the youngster in the garden, Mrs Webster said. The relationship continued for around a year and a half, however Mrs Webster said she could not be sure when it ended.

"The relationship was on, it was off", she said. "There were many times when they would split up and my daughter was very upset and we had to console her."

Mrs Webster said the family argued in April as Westhead thought he would have a right to go and stay at the house when her daughter turned 16 but "as a parent, things don't work like that".

"I was told it was off but behind closed doors it was on. It was very confusing, the whole thing", she said.

Carsluith Avenue (Google)

In July, Mrs Webster spoke to the police after an allegation Westhead had assaulted her daughter on Blackpool beach. She said officers asked if they wanted Westhead to be charged or given a warning - and agreed he would be spoken to by the police.

On July 23, Mrs Webster was at home with her family when Westhead turned up at the house. She told the jury her husband Mark went to the door and she heard "a scuffle".

Mr Webster ran through the house to the garden, where he came upon Westhead, she said. Mrs Webster said she closed the back door and windows to keep her children safe and went to get a phone to call the police.

But as the two men scuffled, she heard her husband shout "he's got a knife", she told the jury.

As she looked out of the kitchen window, Mrs Webster said she saw her husband 'doubled over' by the bins.

"His [Westhead's] hands were at my husband's abdomen. I didn't see the knife. It was probably plunged into his abdomen. Levi's face was crumpled in anger and my husband was looking up at him," Mrs Webster told the court.

She said she saw Westhead running away from the house while she went to help her husband.

"I came outside and he was stumbling across. He has turned and I got him in the house and he just collapsed in the kitchen," she said.

Emergency services arrived at the house and transferred Mr Webster to hospital, however he died a short time later.

(Proceeding)

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