A friend of a murdered backpacker described how he

A friend of a murdered backpacker described how he saw ‘the flash of a blade’ just seconds before his pal was stabbed to death in a frenzied attack.

Canadian-born Stephane Dupuis was repeatedly knifed after he accused the wrong man of stealing his housemate’s wallet, the Old Bailey has heard.

Richard Goodan, 33, is accused of killing the globe-trotting 30-year-old after being approached by the victim and two pals on a south London street.

Giving evidence Elton Johnson said he and Mr Dupuis were at home in Dray Gardens, Brixton, on the night of the incident.

Another housemate, Alex Lyons returned to say he had been mugged by three men in a local park while walking home from his bar job.

Mr Johnson said he and Mr Dupuis offered to go out with Mr Lyons to search for the wallet in the hope the attackers had dumped it.

‘We were just looking around on the off chance because in my mind we had no hope of finding the wallet,’ Mr Johnson explained.

After they walked for a while along St Matthew’s Road the trio decided to return home.

But at that moment they spotted two men nearby.

‘Alex saw two people on the island and said those are the people,’ said Mr Johnson.

‘We all started running in the direction of the two people.

‘At the time there was no purpose to do anything.

I did not know what was going to happen.

‘

Mr Johnson said he fell behind his two friends when some money fell out of his pocket.

When he caught up with the pair they were arguing with two men.

Mr Dupuis was rowing with a man sporting a black t-shirt, while Mr Lyons was arguing with another man wearing a white top.

Initially Mr Johnson’s attention was focused on Mr Lyons, who he said ‘was pretty sure the guy in the white shirt had his wallet.

‘

He said he soon realised Mr Dupuis and Goodan were fighting.

‘I could see both of them wrestling with each other,’ said Mr Johnson.

‘I know I just saw the flash of a blade.

‘The blade was in the hand of the man with the black t-shirt.

‘I looked over to see the guy running away.

I saw Stephen was not chasing after him.

‘

The victim died instantly in a pool of his own blood after his heart and lung was pierced by the blade.

He was also stabbed in the stomach, arms and legs, before left dying on the pavement, in Mervin Road, Brixton.

Witnesses saw Goodan holding a knife running back to his Ford Fiesta car before speeding off with his friend.

Goodan, who had spent the evening clubbing with a friend, is alleged to have returned to his car to get the knife after Mr Dupuis confronted him.

But video footage from the club proved the defendant and his pal were not responsible for the mugging.

Another witness, housemate Maya Sen, told the court Mr Dupuis would not have gone looking for trouble.

‘He was a very caring and gentle person who because he was a little bit older than us was like an older brother to us.

‘He was always helping people without question,’ added Ms Sen.

Goodan claimed after his arrest that he acted in self-defence.

But the prosecution say a doctor’s examination did not reveal any injuries to support his story.

Goodan, of Dorset Road, Stockwell, denies murder on July 23, last year.

He also has an address in Watford.

The trial continues.

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