CLOSING speeches have been heard this week in the trial of a man accused of the murder of a young Odiham chef.

Andrew Morris denies murdering 21-year-old Henry Stangroom at the house they shared in Lavender Sweep, Battersea, London, on October 17 last year.

The trial at the Old Bailey has heard that Morris, 30, stabbed Mr Stangroom in the chest in revenge for his sister Michelle Stangroom, 28, breaking up with him.

Morris then tried to kill himself, first by cutting his wrists and then by firing a harpoon spear into his chin.

Mr Stangroom, a former pupil at Lord Wandsworth College, in Long Sutton, worked at The Criterion restaurant, in Piccadilly Circus, having previously lived with his parents in Rye Common, Odiham.

Opening the trial five weeks ago, Sarah Plaschkes, prosecuting, said the killing was motivated by revenge for the “hurt and distress” Michelle Stangroom caused him by rejecting him.

The jury has heard Morris told the police after the incident that he could not remember what happened that weekend.

But during the trial, he said his memory had returned, and he described stabbing Mr Stangroom in self-defence after making an inflammatory comment about a fatal car accident.

Morris said he made the comment about a car accident, in London Road, Odiham, in which Mr Stangroom fatally hit 19-year-old Jack Bland, from Odiham, on September 11, 2011.

Closing speeches were heard on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict on Monday.