Trial starts of Skegness man accused of murdering former friend

A man stabbed a former friend and then ran away leaving his victim with a fatal injury, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Paul Bodell is alleged to have used "severe force" when he stabbed Paul Barnett, 45, during an incident in Grosvenor Road, Skegness.

Andrew Vout QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the two men were former friends who had fallen out with each other before the fatal incident in September 2020.

Mr Vout said "Paul Bodell stabbed Paul Barnett with such ferocity that the knife went through the left side of his chest, damaged his ribs, went through his lung, went through one of the arteries emerging from Mr Barnett's heart and entered into and damaged his spinal bones.

"Having inflicted this terrible wound Paul Bodell ran away disposing of his knife as he ran.

"Within minutes Paul Barnett would be dead.

"Paul Bodell had been seeking a confrontation with Paul Barnett for some days before. You are going to hear that Paul Bodell provoked and provoked and provoked Paul Barnett until he had him out in the street ready for a confrontation.."

Mr Vout said that after the pair initially clashed in the street Bodell returned to his home and picked up an 18cms bladed knife from the kitchen worktop.

"He concealed this awful weapon up his sleeve. He then calmly sauntered out of his home into the street. Once there he encouraged Paul Barnett to follow him to a location where there weren't any cameras.

"Paul Barnett, who was carrying a golf club, followed Paul Bodell. Paul Barnett may have swung the golf club at Paul Bodell but Bodell then lunged and stabbed Paul Barnett to the left chest area with force."

Mr Vout said that after being stabbed Mr Barnett stumbled backwards and fell against a parked car before slumping to the floor. He was bleeding heavily but managed to make it back to his nearby flat.

People tried to help him and the emergency services were called but he passed away.

The following morning Bodell went to Skegness Police Station where he was arrested. He was later interviewed by officers on four occasions but made no comment to questions put to him.

Mr Vout said the two men had once been good friends but fell out. Paul Barnett complained that Bodell had taken his door keys off him and he wanted them back while Bodell believed Mr Barnett owed him £40.

The prosecutor told the jury "Through his lawyers Mr Bodell has indicated that his defence is one of reasonable self-defence."

Paul Bodell, 37, of Grosvenor Road, Skegness, denies the murder of Paul Barnett on 22 September 2020.

The trial continues...