Men accused of murder are expected to engage in “self-defense.”

A jury has heard that two men accused of murdering an Oxford man after he tried to steal their designer watch will plead self-defence.

Ryan Byrne, 24, of Hathaway Green Lane, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and George Stephens, 27, of no fixed abode, are on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with the murder of Tobias Bruce, 32.

Mr Bruce, of Arthray Road, died from five stab wounds following the incident in College Lane, Littlemore, at around 6.05pm on Sunday, February 25.

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He was pronounced dead at John Radcliffe Hospital on February 28.

Both men also face a section 18 charge of wounding Brandon Day with intent, who was taken to hospital along with Mr Bruce.

During the opening of the trial on Tuesday (October 1), prosecutor John Benson KC said both men are expected to argue that the incident was a case of self-defense.

Mr Benson KC said the men, along with a third named Theodore Mullings-Fairweather, met Mr Bruce and Mr Day to sell them a Cartier watch.

However, the duo had run off with the guard, with Byrne pursuing Mr Bruce and Stephen pursuing Mr Day.

TRIAL OPENING: Two men are accused of killing a man who tried to steal a Cartier watch

Byrne is expected to say he chased Mr Bruce, who then allegedly produced a knife and the defendant was “just protecting himself”.

“He saw blood, panicked and ran away,” Mr Benson told KC.

Stephen is expected to say that Mr Day “pulled out” a knife and “a fight ensued”.

“He managed to disarm him [Mr Day] But in the fight he stabbed him once in self-defense and had no intention of harming him,” Mr Benson told KC.

The jury heard that Byrne was expected to “hint” that Mullings-Fairweather was more involved in the incident than he was.

However, it is currently believed that Mullings-Fairweather is in Dubai, which the prosecution says was an “attempt to evade the investigation.”

It said he sent an email to his lawyer in April “maintaining his innocence.”

Regarding Byrne's expected defense, Mr Benson KC told the jury they may find it “convenient” that he “blamed someone who was not present in court”.

Mr Benson KC summarized his opening statement to the jury and concluded: “You can have no doubt that Bruce intended to steal the watch and the theft of a watch is a serious matter.”

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“But theft is not the most serious crime in the criminal calendar – murder is.”

Mr Benson KC told the jury that the watch had never been recovered and the exact price was therefore unknown.

The trial continues today (Wednesday, October 2).