A GERMAN man on trial for the murder of a Nottingham student took his own bloodstained clothes home with him because they had "nostalgic value", a court has heard.

David Heiss said he tried to make it look like a "murder with robbery" after he fought with Matthew Pyke in his flat in North Sherwood Street on September 19 last year.

Jurors at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday heard a transcript of what Heiss told police at Limburg Youth Custody Centre on September 26.

Prosecutors claim he stabbed 20-year-old Mr Pyke 86 times in an attack born out of "obsession and hatred in equal measure".

They alleged Heiss had an obsession for Mr Pyke's girlfriend, who he met online, and hatred for Mr Pyke.

The defendant had allegedly told internet friend David Quinn about a "list of people that need to be erased", with Mr Pyke's name at the top.

After Heiss twice turned up uninvited in Nottingham, the prosecution claimed his third visit ended in Mr Pyke's death.

Heiss, of Dauborn, near Limburg, told police he did not have "murderous thoughts" when he went to the couple's flat and just wanted to talk to Mr Pyke. He said Mr Pyke opened the door and he (Heiss) punched him in the face, but did not hit him properly.

"He recognised me and quickly ran back into the flat and I ran after him," said 21-year-old Heiss.

Mr Pyke stumbled as he ran through the door of the flat and then Heiss said he "more or less" threw himself on to Mr Pyke.

Heiss said he told Mr Pyke to be quiet as he had something to explain to him.

He said it seemed that the knife that he had with him in the back of his trouser waistband fell out during the struggle.

All of a sudden Mr Pyke was holding it in his hand, Heiss claimed. Heiss alleged Mr Pyke had injured him in his right knee with the knife during the struggle.

Heiss said he tried to tear the knife away from Mr Pyke, got his hands on it and stabbed at Mr Pyke.

He claimed Mr Pyke got hold of the knife again, before Heiss said he managed to tear it from his hand and stab him in the chest or stomach area.

The men continued to fight until Heiss noticed Mr Pyke had stopped fighting back.

Heiss, who denies murdering Mr Pyke, changed out of his bloodstained clothes but kept them.

"They had a nostalgic value for me. I wanted to wash them and wear them again at home," he said.

"Matthew was lying there. I thought, you have got to make the whole thing look like a murder with robbery."