A TEENAGER accused of murdering a man in his own home told jurors he was “putting on a front” to his co-defendant following the fatal stabbing.

The 17-year-old from Bournemouth denies harming Edward Reeve on New Year’s Eve 2021.

He told Winchester Crown Court the 16-year-old Christchurch boy, who is his co-defendant, attacked Mr Reeve at the 35-year-old’s home with two knives.

Prosecutors allege that both teenagers stabbed and slashed Mr Reeve at the address in Heath Road, Walkford on December 31. His body was found at the property several days later.

Giving evidence at the trial today, the Bournemouth teen said he was “scared of what happened” after the incident and he was “freaking out”.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones QC asked him if he was freaking out when he was walking from Heath Road to Walkford Stores.

The Bournemouth teen replied: “Yes, I had just witnessed something horrifying.”

He added: “I don’t want to show that I am scared.”

Jurors were also played the audio from a phone call between the Christchurch teen and a prisoner he knew, which took place after the defendants had left Heath Road.

The Bournemouth boy told the inmate they “yinged someone up”.

Asked why he said what he did on the call, the 17-year-old told the court: "I was trying to big myself up. I was putting on a front."

Ms Karmy-Jones QC suggested to the Bournemouth teen that he left Mr Reeve to die in his house.

The defendant replied: “I did not harm Mr Reeve.”

Nick Haggan QC, representing the Bournemouth teen, asked him if he stabbed Mr Reeve. The boy said “no”.

The court heard that the 17-year-old had provided two defence statements. The first said he did not harm Mr Reeve, he was not involved in any attack and he did not have a knife.

Asked why the the account he had given in court around the events at Heath Road was not in his first defence statement, he said: "Because I didn't know my friend was trying to put all the blame on me."

The Bournemouth teen added: "I was trying to protect my friend."

Mr Haggan QC asked his client what he realised when he had seen his co-defendant's defence statement.

"That he was trying to blame me for everything," he tells the court.

The Bournemouth teen confirmed that in his second defence statement he set out what happened at Heath Road.

The Christchurch teen, giving evidence earlier this week, said he acted in self-defence when Mr Reeve threatened him with the dumbbell.

He told the court he stabbed him three or four times to the left thigh and buttock and the Bournemouth teen then attacked him, stabbing him and slashing his face.

Both teens deny murder. The Christchurch teen admits having a knife, the Bournemouth teen denies the same charge.

Neither can be named for legal reasons and the trial continues.