Bemerton Heath murder trial: Eyewitness said Jones looked 'terrifying'

These are the words of an eyewitness who told Winchester Crown Court about the moment she allegedly saw Maurice Jones stab Tsvetomir Genov in Bemerton Heath.

Read live coverage of the trial as it happens here

She was driving away from SPAR with her son in the passenger seat when she saw three men gather at the junction of Gainsborough Close and St Michael's Road.

She reversed after seeing Mr Genov step into the road and walk towards two other men - who have been identified as Maurice Jones and his friend Neo Moores.

The mother said she saw Jones stab Mr Genov "several times" with a "massive" knife before hearing a girl, later identified as Sinead Hughes, scream.

"I just went into panic mode. I wanted to protect me and my son," she told the police.

The three men gathered near this Gainsborough Close junction. (Image: Google Maps)

She then saw Jones walk off "angrily" in the direction of SPAR.

"He walked past my car and that's what's so terrifying - I thought he was going to hurt me or something. He just looked scary. He looked so angry."

She described Jones as looking "angry" and "terrifying" throughout the interaction but claimed Mr Genov's expressions did not change.

Shane Alexander McVay watched the events unfold from his house window and thought Mr Genov had approached the scene to "defuse the situation".

Rachel Esin and her husband walked past Jones, Mr Moores and Miss Hughes as they were taking their three children to the compound in Gainsborough Close just before midday on August 22.

Read more: ​Live: Maurice Jones on trial for Bemerton Heath 'murder'

Mrs Esin said she heard Miss Hughes say: "Don't let him do it. Stop him."

Then, she claimed, Mr Moores replied: "I'm trying to. He's so angry, he's not listening."

Moments later Mrs Esin heard Miss Hughes screaming and crying. She turned and saw her "covered in blood".

Tsvetomir Genov died on August 22, 2023. (Image: Contributed)

Home Office registered pathologist Dr Deborah Cook carried out a post-mortem examination on Tsvetomir Genov the day after he died, on Wednesday, August 23.

Dr Cook, who has 20 years of experience in her role, said Mr Genov sustained eight individual knife wounds but the person wielding the weapon used it "at least 10 times". No defence wounds were found on Mr Genov's body.

Dr Cook said it wouldn't have been possible for an air ambulance to arrive in time to save Mr Genov.

Maurice Jones has pleaded not guilty to murder and possessing a bladed article.

The trial continues.