Bodmin murder trial: Man wore knife holster, jury told

A man accused of murdering a rugby player wore a knife in a holster across his body after people were stabbed outside a nightclub, a court has heard.

Michael Riddiough-Allen, 32, was stabbed to death in Bodmin in the early hours of 30 April 2023 outside Eclipse Nightclub.

Jake Hill, 25, Tia Taylor, 22, and Chelsea Powell, 22, all from Bodmin, were charged with his murder.

A jury was told Mr Hill had a knife at a gathering held at Ms Taylor's house.

Victims were stabbed or slashed by Mr Hill in a matter of seconds outside the club, Truro Crown Court heard.

A witness who left the nightclub after it closed at 03:00 told jurors he walked towards Ms Taylor's house away from a fight taking place outside the venue.

He said Mr Hill, whom he had met that night and was also at the gathering, appeared to have a knife in a "holster" across his body.

"He unzipped the coat he was wearing... at the front he had what I describe as a large blade," he told the court in a written statement.

"Jake appeared to be so casual about its presence like he wasn't bothered we could all see it."

Another witness recalled how he had seen Mr Riddiough-Allen collapse to the ground outside the nightclub.

Ethan Truscott, who was at the nightclub after earlier attending an awards ceremony at Bodmin Rugby Club with Mr Riddiough-Allen, said he saw him with a cut across his stomach before "he went down".

He told the court moments later "Jake walked out into the light" and "started waving the knife in our direction".

He said Mr Hill asked him, "Do you want some as well?".

Andrew Langdon, defending Mr Hill, told the court there was "no dispute" his client was holding a knife, but he denied he had asked him that question.

James Chapman, another witness, told the court Mr Hill "turned and walked away" after he was asked what he was doing with the knife.

Two other witnesses told the court of how an argument between two women outside the nightclub quickly turned into "carnage".

Jurors were earlier told that Ms Taylor and Ms Powell, who were at the nightclub with Mr Hill, allegedly joined in with the attack on Mr Riddiough-Allen.

The trial continues.

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