A DRUG dealer acted out out of ‘anger or revenge’ on the night a 22-year-old alleged street gang member died of fatal stab wounds in Popley, a court has heard. 

As previously reported, Jordan Clarke, 26, of no fixed abode, stands trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of the murder of 22-year-old Troy Harkness.

Harkness was found seriously injured in Abbey Road, near the junction with Popley Way, on January 19.

He was taken to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Opening the trial last month prosecutor Kerry Maylin said Harkness died due to stab wounds he sustained following an altercation in Melrose Walk, in which he had stolen cannabis from Clarke.

On Friday, August 5, Clarke gave evidence and said he had a knife “stuffed in his coat pocket” to defend himself.

Questioning Clarke on Monday, August 8, about how he had chased Harkness from the Melrose Walk area, Ms Maylin said: “You were really angry at that point, were you not?”

Clarke responded: “Yes, you could say that.”

Ms Maylin continued: “What happened is, you chased him with your knife out?”

Clarke responded: “No, I didn't.”

Ms Maylin asked Clarke why he had not told the police he had had a knife on him, to which he said he was fearful of “how bad that looks.”

READ MORE: Popley murder: Defendant claims he ‘gave up’ chasing murder victim who ‘had a knife in his waistband’

She continued: “You didn’t want any association with that knife. Was it because you knew that Troy Harkness had sustained an injury? You knew that it was your knife, and you had caused the injury to Troy.”

Clarke responded: “I do not believe I stabbed him. I had a knife out but I didn't touch him, it didn't seem like he came close enough [to me] for that. And he rode off perfectly fine.” 

Closing the prosecution case, Ms Maylin said: “A hard and fast fact is that Jordan Clarke prepared himself that night prior to leaving the home he shared with his girlfriend, by taking one of the largest knives from her knife block and carrying it with him to do what he did on a regular basis, to deal drugs.

“Who would have been angry? The man who had lost what, to him, was a substantial amount of drugs. 

“If it was you or I that had something stolen, we could have left and told the police. But drug dealers don’t do that. They sort it out themselves. And he sorted it out himself by taking that knife out of his jacket. He was seeking, call it revenge if you like. Call it restoration of his drugs. But it was not defence of himself.

“You want something to show you have not lost face. You are the strong drug dealer. You are on top.” 

READ MORE: Popley murder: Accused said he had a knife 'stuffed in his coat pocket' to defend himself

She continued: “How can you stab someone accidentally twice? How can you not foresee that someone might get hurt in a fast-moving incident where you have taken a knife out. 

“In anger or revenge, it was Jordan Clarke who inflicted those wounds with the knife that fits.” 

However, closing the case for the defence, Nicholas Hagen reminded the jury of Clarke’s claim he heard Harkness say he was going to “sheff you up”, to stab him, and that he saw what he believed to be the handle of a knife in Harkness’s waistband.

Mr Hagen said that Clarke was carrying the knife out of “fear”. 

He said: “This is not some imagined tale that Jordan Clarke has thought up to try and explain away what happened that night. 

“Troy Harkness had a reputation. He was believed to be part of the Basingstoke Street Gang and had a reputation for violence. This is the prosecution’s own evidence.”

Clarke denies one count of murder. 

The jury were sent out to begin deliberations at approximately 3pm on Tuesday (August 9).

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