A JURY has retired to come to a verdict in the trial of two men accused of murder.

David John Henwood, 34 also known as David Brewer, and Kasey Wayne Rolfe, 37, are standing trial charged with the murder, and also manslaughter, of 41-year-old Jason Williams in South Ham on February 20.

During the trial at Winchester Crown Court the jury has heard how on February 19 the defendants had scored drugs from an alleyway off Margaret Road, South Ham, from a drug supplier network known as PANDA.

The prosecution has set out a timeline of the journey made by the pair, thanks to a tracker on Henwood’s work van.

The court heard how the co-defendants returned to the same alleyway at around midnight on February 20, but this time the prosecution alleges with the intention to rob and steal from the dealer Mr Williams.

The prosecution claims that on the night of February 19, the defendants planned to rob Mr Williams of drugs and money, and the knife allegedly supplied by Rolfe was intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Williams.

The body of Mr Williams was found in an alleyway off of Margaret Road, South Ham near Russell Howard Park. He was found in the early hours of February 20, and his death was later determined to be caused by a single stab wound to the chest.

However, the defence for Henwood claim he left the scene after seeing “four geezers” there and no drug deal took place and that Rolfe was in the van the whole time of the assault.

Defending Hendwood, William Mousely claimed there were no traces of blood on his clients being

He said: “There was no sign of blood or involvement in a violent incident.

“If there is no blood on Mr Henwood’s fleece or on the boots, that is why there is no blood in the van?”

James Newton-Price, defending Rolfe, told the jury there is clear evidence that his client was not at the scene of the alleged murder.

He said: “Kasey Rolfe did not stab the victim, nobody said that he did. The prosecution accepts he was not the man who stabbed Mr Williams.”

In summing up judge James Dingemans QC told the jury they must be sure that Henwood and Rolfe intended to kill or seriously harm Mr Williams when carrying out the robbery.

Judge Dingemans said: “You must come to your verdict without emotion. You might have feelings of disgust or pity for the defendants but you must judge this case on the evidence.

“You must reach a unanimous verdict.”

Henwood, of Edmund Court and Rolfe, of no fixed abode, both deny the charges against them.

The jury has retired to return a verdict