AN eye witness has described to court how he caught a glimpse of a blade during an attack in a Hereford street on a man who later died in hospital.

The trial has begun into the suspected murder of Robert Eacock in Hereford city centre earlier this year.

The 33-year-old died in Hereford County Hospital after being stabbed in Commercial Street on January 29.

Anthony Boyd, 23, of Temple Road, Willenhall, pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder. He has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Artaf Hussain, 31, of Slater Street, Tipton, also faces a murder charge.

At Worcester Crown Court yesterday the jury heard details of CCTV evidence of Boyd and Mr Eacock’s movements through Hereford city centre in the minutes leading up to the stabbing.

The court heard how, according to CCTV images, Boyd approached Mr Eacock, who was waiting at the crossing outside the Kerry pub on Commercial Street on his pushbike.

Boyd then stabbed Mr Eacock and ran down Commercial Street.

Eye witness Mr Campbell, who was also standing at the crossing on his way to work, described how he saw a man in the corner of his eye extend his arm out and make impact with the man on the bike. He also described how he caught a glimpse of a blade.

He described how initially he thought the man on the bike had been punched and that he also heard a ripping sound, which he thought may have been a coat or skin ripping.

He told how the attacker ran towards High Town and the man on the bike cycled away down Commercial Street, grabbing his side with his left hand.

Another witness, Daniel Morris, recounted in a written statement, how when walking along Commercial Street, he and his girlfriend saw a large gathering of people outside Toni & Guy’s hairdressers saying somebody had been stabbed.

He noted how people were trying to help Mr Eacock who was lying on the floor.

Another witness described how when walking toward the Old Market Shopping Centre, he saw a man jog past and drop a knife on the floor, before retrieving it and continuing to jog away.

The trial continues, with the defence expected to start next week.