A DRUG runner was put in a headlock and chased by a man who would later be stabbed to death as part of a bid to steal drugs, a court heard.

Murdoch Brown, 31, was stabbed three times in the leg in Buffett Way, Colchester, in May 2019, and later died in hospital.

A murder trial entered its fourth day at Chelmsford Crown Court.

In the witness box, Robert Brown, Murdoch’s brother, said the pair had travelled from Braintree to Colchester on the evening of May 7.

He told the jury the pair walked to Avon Way, in Greenstead, with the intention of purchasing drugs and were lured down Buffett Way by two men.

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Mr Brown said he had tried to explain to the men why he had been unable to pay a £290 drug debt.

He said the pair pulled knives and attacked the two brothers.

Three people were charged with murdering Mr Brown, 31, and are standing trial.

Toyn Williams, 29, of Winchester Road, Hale End, in East London, Jay Dice, 23, of Mayville, Leyonstone, and Reece McHutcherson, 20, of Pillow Way, Buckingham, deny the charge of murder.

Williams, Dice and McHutcherson also deny attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Robert Brown.

Hodgkinson, Dice and McHutcherson are charged with perverting the course of justice.

Cairns Nelson QC, defending McHutcherson, questioned Mr Brown’s story in cross examination.

He said: “Are you really suggesting that this drug line, to whom you were a £500 a week customer – a good customer – are you really suggesting they would try to maim you, to kill you and your brother because of a few day’s debt?”

Mr Nelson said his client had been serving up drugs to customers in Buffett Way on “his first full day” working as a runner for the JR line in Colchester.

He suggested to Mr Brown it was he and Murdoch who arrived armed with knives with the intention of robbing his client of drugs.

Mr Nelson suggested Murdoch Brown placed McHutcherson in a headlock, before pursuing him down the street while armed with a knife.

Mr Brown denied this version of events.

The trial continues.