THE jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of two teenage boys accused of murdering a man in his own home.

The teens are on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the murder of 35-year-old Edward Reeve at his address in Heath Road, Walkford, on New Year’s Eve 2021.

Prosecutors allege that a 16-year-old boy from Christchurch and a 17-year-old Bournemouth boy both attacked Mr Reeve with knives.

The trial heard that Mr Reeve’s principal injury was a stab wound to his stomach, severing the main artery which drains the left kidney.

Mr Reeve was found dead at his home by two friends several days later.

While giving evidence during the trial, the Christchurch teen accepted stabbing Mr Reeve but said he was acting in self-defence before his co-defendant inflicted further stab wounds.

When the Bournemouth teen was in the witness box, he said he did not stab Mr Reeve and that he watched the Christchurch boy attack him with two knives.

The Honourable Mr Justice Sweeney concluded his summing up of the evidence on Tuesday, July 26, before the jury was sent out to begin its deliberations shortly after 12.30pm.

Both defendants deny murder, the Christchurch teen has pleaded guilty to having a bladed article, while the Bournemouth defendant has pleaded not guilty to that charge.

Neither can be named for legal reasons and the trial continues.

The jury was sent home by the judge shortly after 4pm on Tuesday to continue its deliberations on Wednesday.