A man told a jury he was cuddled by murder bid accused John McGrandle who then pushed him down a flight of steps and stabbed him.
David Kettles, 45, was giving evidence at the trial of McGrandle, 42, who is accused of attempting to murder him at Court Street North, Dundee, on November 18.
Mr Kettles told the High Court in Glasgow his girlfriend of 14 years Susan Robertson lived in the block of flats in Court Street North. He said he was visiting her and had popped out to buy some bread.
When he returned he found McGrandle standing at the secure door entry system trying to get into the building.
He said that McGrandle had a dispute with Robert Ramsay – known as Rab – who lived in the same block of flats and wanted to speak to him.
The court was told that inside the building Mr Ramsay and McGrandle argued, and Mr Kettles said: “I just wanted to calm it down. I let Mr Ramsay into my girlfriend’s flat because I thought he and John were going to start fighting.”
This left Mr Kettles and McGrandle standing in the landing.
Mr Kettles said: “I asked him to leave. He cuddled me and said alright and then pushed me downstairs.”
He told the jury he thought that McGrandle had punched him, but added: “When the blood started coming out I realised I had been stabbed and I went into shock.”
Mr Kettles was asked if he had seen a knife and replied: “It was definitely a knife. I saw the glint.”
He was asked by defence counsel Ronnie Renucci: “You know Mr McGrandle was trying to get to see Robert Ramsay who lived in that block of flats,” and replied: “Yes.”
Mr Kettles added: “He was taking his anger out on me. It was meant for Rab.”
He denied a suggestion by Mr Renucci that he had grabbed the knife from the kitchen and stabbed himself after falling downstairs, saying: “I’ve never carried a knife or used a knife. I’m not a violent person.”
Mr Renucci said: “You found out that Mr McGrandle had slept with your girlfriend two months earlier,” and Mr Kettles rep[lied: “Not at all my relationship is solid. She wouldn’t sleep with that.”
“He’s been talking about that saying ‘I’m going to use that as my defence. I slept with his girlfriend.’ It’s rubbish.”
McGrandle denies attempting to murder Mr Kettles by pushing him, causing him to fall down stairs and then stabbing him on the body with a knife.
The 42 year-old faces a separate charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
It is claimed he ditched the knife used in the attack in a hedge and that he also hid in a wardrobe at a property in the city’s Brantwood Avenue to “avoid detection, arrest and prosecution”.
McGrandle is also charged with assaulting a PC and resisting arrest.
He denies all the charges against him.
The trial before Judge Sean Murphy QC continues.
