Heiss denies stab victim was "cowering"

BLOOD stains in a flat where a student was allegedly murdered showed he had cowered on his haunches as he was repeatedly stabbed, a court heard.

David Heiss denied this was the case during a third day of questioning by prosecutors at Nottingham Crown Court.

Heiss denies stabbing Matthew Pyke, 20, in September last year after becoming obsessed with his girlfriend over the internet.

This morning he was asked about the blood stains found in Mr Pyke's North Sherwood Street flat.

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Shaun Smith QC, prosecuting, suggested that blood in one area showed Mr Pyke had been cowering and Heiss told him: "No."

Heiss said Mr Pyke had not cowered but had been in the area next to the bed, where the blood was found, looking for something.

Mr Smith said: "Blood we see further towards where the incident started is him trying to run away. That's what that is, isn't it?

"You chased Matt down that corridor with that knife in your hand?"

Heiss, 21, of Dauborn, Germany, said: "No."

Mr Smith referred to a footprint in blood and asked Heiss if that was caused by Mr Pyke running away.

Heiss told him it was Mr Pyke who ran away with the knife.

Mr Smith suggested Mr Pyke had been stabbed by Heiss a lot of times.

"Why were you running after him?" he asked.

Heiss said: "We had crossed the line that nobody should cross and I was so afraid he would call the police and tell them I had assaulted him."

The court has heard that Mr Pyke was found dead at the flat on Friday September 19 by his girlfriend, Joanna Witton. He had suffered 86 stab wounds.

Proceeding