A MAN on trial for murder told the court he thought the victim was trying to rob and kill him.

Gilbert Morgan, 24, of Lincoln Road, Basildon, took to the witness box at Basildon Crown Court to defend himself.

Morgan is charged with murdering Bhekisipho Mudise Dube, known locally as 29-year-old Marcus Harper, in a drug-deal gone wrong earlier this year.

Morgan admitted to the jury he dealt drugs and was travelling to sell one gram of cocaine to a woman in Queen Elizabeth Drive, Corringham, on March 21.

Shortly before his arrival, Morgan told the court he received a text from the buyer, whom he has never met before, saying her cousin would be picking up the class A drugs instead.

He said: “I assumed it would be a woman because the person I was speaking to was female. When I saw it was a man, I wasn’t going to argue when he got in the car.”

The court heard victim Marcus Harper got in and pulled an 18.5 inch knife on Morgan, who had his two young children in the back of the car.

The court heard Mr Harper ordered Morgan hand over his drugs and cash.

A scuffle ensued and Morgan told the court they fell out of the passenger door of his black BMW.

Morgan said: “I was trying to direct the knife towards him and away from me.

“I thought he was trying to kill me and rob me.”

Marcus Harper died at the scene from 25 stab wounds, including a fatal wound to the chest shortly before 7.40pm.

Morgan added: “I didn’t stab him intentionally. It was all in self-defence.

“I didn’t look back so I didn’t know what was happening with Marcus.”

William Carter, prosecuting, insisted the defendant must have known the victim was hurt. He replied: “I didn’t think he was badly injured. I was panicked and worried. He could’ve been injured but I didn’t know it was to that extent.”

Morgan told the court he then rang a friend to meet him in Basildon. He said: “I wanted him there for reassurance. I said it was in regards to something with drugs and a knife that happened in Corringham.” Morgan put his children in the living room and tried to calm them down before washing blood off his hands in the kitchen.

After his car was seized by police Morgan handed himself in. The trial continues.