A FATHER was stabbed in the heart minutes after arriving at a party by a murderer who fled the country and lived as a fugitive for 20 years, a court heard.

Grant Byrom, 30, was stabbed three times, with the fatal wound entering his heart by three centimeters, in the street outside a Colchester flat on Boxing Day 1998.

Michael Donnelly, who was aged 51 at the time of the attack, is accused of his murder, a charge he denies.

Christopher Paxton QC, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court, said yesterday a confrontation between Mr Byrom and Donnelly took place outside Donnelly’s flat in Forest Road, Colchester.

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Mr Paxton said witnesses saw Donnelly, now aged 73, making “deliberate lunges” towards Mr Byrom with a knife.

The court heard after stabbing Mr Byrom, who was pronounced dead at Colchester Hospital under an hour later, Donnelly “fled his party, his home, and the country” that same night.

He remained a fugitive until June 10 last year, when he handed himself in at Colchester Police Station.

Donnelly revealed to police he had been living in Thailand.

Mr Paxton said: “Having stabbed Mr Byrom he fled not just from the scene of his crime, which was his home, but abroad.

“The defendant’s swiftness with the knife, striking Mr Byrom, was matched only by his swiftness running away from his home and this country.”

He added: “He was interviewed by police and said he was in poor health and was running out of money.

“He accepted in interview there was an incident with Mr Byrom at which he was present on Boxing Day evening 1998, but he said he was not the stabber and was not responsible for Mr Byrom’s death.”

The court heard earlier on Boxing Day, Mr Byrom had played a football match for his pub team, The Clarendon, against Strood Athletic, in Stanway.

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Mr Paxton said although Mr Byrom’s team lost the match, Mr Byrom “had a good game” and “everyone was in good spirits” when the team retired to the former Clarendon pub, in Harwich Road, Colchester, for post-game drinks.

“There were many in the pub that afternoon eating and drinking,” he said.

“The defendant Mr Donnelly was not at the game, nor was he at the pub.”

The court heard in the late afternoon an argument broke out, with some pushing and shoving. Mr Paxton said: “It seems Mr Byrom accidentally caught his friend with a glass, causing an injury for which he would need to go hospital.”

The court heard the injured man, was a friend to Mr Byrom, who was keen to apologise.

Mr Byrom and two friends heard a party was taking place at Donnelly’s flat, in Forest Road, Colchester, and took a taxi to the address.

The court heard the taxi arrived at around 7.50pm, with evidence from the taxi driver noting their demeanour was good.

“There was no suggestion that earlier argument in the pub was to continue,” said Mr Paxton.

The court heard Mr Byrom was keen to go to the party to apologise again to his injured friend and to make up with him. Minutes later, Mr Paxton said a witness reported seeing Donnelly “running out” from the flat, shouting at Mr Byrom and seemingly challenging him to a fight.

The jury were told in the confrontation that followed, Mr Byrom was stabbed by Donnelly three times, with the fatal wound penetrating his heart.

During the trial, which is expected to last three weeks, the jury will hear prosecution evidence from friends of Mr Byrom who were with him throughout the evening, as well as a witness at the party.

They will also hear the 999 call made by a neighbour who rushed to help Mr Byrom as he lay dying in the street.

The trial continues.