JURORS in the murder trial of Tanis Bhandari heard how a young man who was stabbed in the back pleaded with his mother "don't let me die".
A video interview with Jamie Healy, recorded by police on January 9, the day after he had been discharged from hospital, was shown to jurors at Plymouth Crown Court.
On trial for the joint murder of the 27-year-old builder is 21-year-old Donald Pemberton of Victoria Road, St Budeaux. He also faces three counts of wounding with intent and one count of actual bodily harm. He denies all five charges.
Answering questions by detectives, Mr Healy explained how he had left The Kings Arms in the early hours of January 1 having seen in the New Year with friends and his girlfriend.
He said he recalled walking across the green in Tamerton Foliot, before he was attacked.
On the footage he told the detective: "I just remember getting struck from behind. I thought personally I had just been winded. I had my hand behind and touched my back and it was dripping with blood.
"I don't even remember hitting the floor."
While on the floor he recalled his mother being beside him.
He added: "She had been told to come down. There was a bloke pushing on my back to stop the blood coming out so much.
"I remember my mum shouting at me 'I'm here, I'm here'.
"I remember saying to her 'please don't let me die' and then I remember the person pushing on my back.
"Then I was in hospital and my clothes were being cut off. I remember the scan, going in there. It was really hot and I was shouting I didn't feel right. I don't remember anything after that."
When he finally awoke he was told he had undergone one operation where his kidney and spleen had been removed.
He told the officer: "My kidney was cut in half by the blow to the back." Mr Healy underwent two more operations before he was discharged and told the officer he was "struggling to walk, struggling to sleep and I hardly eat".
When asked who it was who stabbed him, Mr Healy replied: "No idea".
The court watched the video interview of another witness, 21-year-old George Walker, who said he heard screaming behind him and ran over to protect his girlfriend Billy-Jay Edmonds.
He said: "I heard screaming behind me and turned around to see my girlfriend and Dina and a lad in front of them.
"He had a knife. He was waving it towards them. I ran over to get in the way. I put my arm up over my head to protect myself. That's when it cut me on the arm."
When asked by the officer what he thought the man wanted to do to him, Mr Walker answered: "Kill me".
The trial continues.
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