A TEENAGER accused of murdering a 35-year-old man said he acted in self defence, telling a jury “there’s nothing else I could have done”.

Two boys, a 16-year-old from Christchurch and a 17-year-old from Bournemouth, are accused of murdering Edward Reeve, 35, at his home in Heath Road, Walkford, on New Year’s Eve 2021.

Mr Reeve was found in his home on January 4 surrounded by blood with more than a dozen stab and slash wounds.

Bournemouth Echo:

READ MORE: Edward Reeve murder trial: Accused teen in the witness box

Giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court, the Christchurch teen said he stabbed Mr Reeve three times when he approached him with a dumbbell.

He claimed his co-defendant then stabbed Mr Reeve further and slashed him to the face, a court heard.

The Christchurch teen, who admitting stealing Mr Reeve’s computer tower two days before, said: “We were all sat there, Ed started asking me about the computer tower and I denied it.

“He started to raise his voice, getting more and more angry, repeating the accusations until he stood up.

“On the table next to the armchair, that's where the dumbbell was. He stood up, grabbed the bar.

“Once I stood up, he started to approach me. At this point, he was talking but he was muttering to himself.

“I went to the piece of furniture and grabbed the knife, there was only two in there, the pink one and shorter blue one, I picked up the shorter blue one.

“I armed myself, I threatened him told him if he was to get closer, I'd stab him.

“He was slowly coming towards me, once he got into range that's when I stabbed him.”

The teenager said he stabbed him three times in the thigh and “backside area”.

“When he turned, it was towards (Bournemouth teen),” he continued. “I was still in the exact same place, I remember (Bournemouth teen) stabbed him in the front of the body.

“I just remember a slash to the face, that's when Ed dropped the dumbbell and put his hands to his face.

“He went for his face again and hit his hands.”

The Christchurch teen said his co-defendant told him “I have your back” and that he stabbed Mr Reeve to “protect” him. The Christchurch teen admitted he “believed” his co-defendant but has since realised his actions were not necessary.

He said he went to find out “the outcome” of what had happened when he returned to the property on January 3.

He didn’t enter the property as he “panicked”, pacing up and down the driveway, the court heard.

When he learnt the body had been found the next day, he was “upset and worried”.

Under cross-examination from Nick Haggan QC, representing the Bournemouth teen, the Christchurch teen denied “losing it” and attacking Mr Reeve.

He said “I’ve owned up to what I’ve done” after it was suggested he was placing all the blame on the Bournemouth teen.

Both boys deny murder. Neither can be named and the trial continues.