UK: Teen on trial for attempted murder denies stabbing gay man in chest
A teenager on trial for the attempted murder of a 35-year-old gay man denies he is homophobic and says cocaine makes him “stupid not aggressive”.
Mr Evans had been drinking on the night of the incident and had taken cocaine in the toilets of a pub.
The 19-year-old was arrested on 11 November.
During a hearing at Chester Crown Court, Peter Moss, defending, asked Mr Evans what he thought about the possibility that it was a homophobic attack.
Mr Evans replied: “I have no views on that. Everybody is equal. It’s their choice.”
He claims to have no knowledge of the altercation.
The Chester Chronicle reports the jury was also told of a 999 call made by Mr Evans less than a year before the incident, in which he threatened to stab police officers and set them alight.
Mr Nascimento, who moved to Chester from Brazil nine years ago, said he had gone to Tesco on Frodsham Street to do some shopping and walked to the City Walls where he bumped into his friend Gareth Davies.
The two had been chatting for about 40 minutes when Mr Nascimento said a “strange person turned up” and went down the stairs where he stopped for a few minutes before turning round and coming back up the steps.
Mr Nascimento said this was a signal commonly used by gay men at the spot which he also said was a popular meeting place for gay men.
The 35-year-old, who spent time in intensive care following the incident, said: “I am recovering slowly but mentally I am struggling still.”
The trial continues.
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