A man who was fatally stabbed in a block of flats in Welwyn Garden City was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”, a court has heard today.

Stab victim Andrew Mason, 31, came out of a top floor flat in Panshanger and came across crack cocaine dealer Matthew Fathers trying to stop Darryl Daley robbing him of his drugs, a jury heard.

Mr Mason, who had left the flat to see what was going on, said: “It is nothing to do with me.”

But he had a knife plunged twice into his body by Fathers, St Albans Crown Court was told today (Monday).

Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said drug user Daley, 46, had attempted to rob Fathers, 30, outside the flat in Moyne House, Ley Walk.

Fathers was said to have pulled out a knife and tried, but failed to stab Daley.

He said: “Mr Mason came from a nearby flat.

“He was nothing to do with it.

“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“When Fathers failed to stab Daley, he stabbed Mr Mason twice.

“Fathers will say he stabbed him in self defence.

“The crown say that is untrue.

“He had no need to attack or stab him twice - killing him on the spot.

“He was no threat or obstruction.

“Mr Mason said ‘it is nothing to do with me’.

“It was nothing to do with him.

“He was unnecessarily attacked and killed by Fathers.”

Mr Trimmer said the victim received two stab wounds.

One penetrated 17 centimetres into Mr Mason’s chest and killed him.

The second wound to his stomach area was not so severe.

He was pronounced dead at 2.53am in the morning of Saturday, June 16, this year.

He told the jury Fathers’ case was to be one of self-defence.

Matthew Fathers of Little Hardings, Welwyn Garden City, denies murder.

Darryl Daley of Moss Green, Welwyn Garden City, denies attempted robbery.

The case proceeds.