THE jury in the murder trial of John Chivers, who is charged with killing a father-of-three in Barry, have heard that the accused 'left his victim to die as though he was nothing'.

30-year-old Chivers is accused of stabbing 41-year-old Paul Michael Jones, known as Jona, twice in the heart after a row in Columbus Close on August 3, last year.

Columbus Close resident Katie Fowler, who witnessed some of the incident, told the jury at Cardiff Crown Court that Jona was 'backing away with his hands in the air' before he was stabbed.

Giving evidence, she said: "He (Jona) was starting walking backwards with his hands in the air trying to dodge it (the knife)."

Motioning her hands in the air, Ms Fowler added: "He (Jona) was surrendering, like you see robbers do to police when they are caught."

Ms Fowler told the court that as neighbours crowded around Jones, Chivers walked past.

Questioning Ms Fowler for the prosecution, Michael Chambers asked: "He (Chivers) walked past the man on the ground?"

Ms Fowler said: "Yes. He just walked past and looked down at him like he was nothing."

Giving evidence via video link, second witness Irene Fowler said she could see what was happening from her window.

She said: "There was a lot of shouting and screaming.The bald guy (Chivers) was shouting at the little guy (Jona) to 'get away from my house'.

"The little man went to the boot of the car and was rummaging in the boot. The bald man shouted 'if you are going to do tools or weapons…’, then he went into the house and came out with a big silver knife.

"He was jabbing it towards the little guy who was backing up the street with his hands in the air.

"He (Jona) was shouting 'don’t do it'."

Columbus Close resident and mum-of-two Abigail Hunt told the court: "I heard Jona say 'you stabbed me' – that was all he was able to say."

The mum-of-two, who has some first aid training, told the court that when she and Dominique had lifted his jumper to assess the wounds, they had found a wheelbrace tucked into the waistband.

Forensic scientist Dr Wilfred Balsley who examined the small wheelbrace – a device used for loosening bolts on a car wheel – yesterday told the jury that the socket on the brace had been coated in Jona's blood.

*Chivers denies murder, and the trial is expected to last for a further two weeks.