Dealer on trial for Welwyn murder says it was ‘self defence’

A county drug dealer who stabbed his teenage grandfather 22 times in a dispute over stolen drugs told a jury he acted in self-defense.

42-year-old Gavin Hubbard fatally passed away Stabbed at home in Welwyn Garden City In Hertfordshire on 19 May.

The prosecution said that Mr. Hubbard was Tuche Coşkun’s client and that he robbed her and that the woman went to his house to cause serious harm to herself.

Ms Coskun, 21, of Enfield, north London, denies murder and a separate charge of causing grievous bodily harm after a friend of Mr Hubbard was injured at home.

The jury at St Albans Crown Court heard how Coskun admitted supplying heroin and cocaine and Mr Hubbard stealing drugs from him.

George Carter-Stephenson KC, defending, told the jury Coşkun felt trapped by debts he owed to his supplier.

“He can’t pay her back, she knows where he and his family live and what kind of punishment could come if he can’t pay her back.”

The prosecution said Ms Toskun went to Mr Hubbard’s home with a knife, intending to cause him serious harm and take back his drugs.

He died due to excessive blood loss after receiving nine deep stab wounds and 13 slice wounds.

But Mr Carter-Stephenson told the jury: “Mr Hubbard had a reputation for violence.”

He said the injuries “occurred during a serious struggle in which the defendant believed Mr. Hubbard would have caused very serious injuries if he had gained control of the knife.”

The jury heard the man had multiple previous convictions for assault and possession of a knife. He started using drugs after his wife died of cancer.

Mr Carter-Stephenson explained how Coşkun became involved in the drug trade after losing his job in a warehouse and wanted to help his mother.

“He wasn’t fit or equipped to be a drug dealer. He’s too nice.

“He gets robbed all the time, he doesn’t carry a gun. Don’t think he’s more likely to have committed a crime because he’s dealing drugs.”

The court heard that Tuçe Coşkun told the police, “I stabbed him to death,” and then said to his friend, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to happen like this.”

Those who knew Ms. Coşkun described her as “caring and responsible”.

The prosecution alleges that Coşkun took action for revenge and “laid an ambush to get compensation for taking the drug.”

Judge Mann KC told the jury that in order to be convicted of murder they had to decide whether Coşkun deliberately and unlawfully caused Mr Hubbard’s death.

He suggested to the jury an alternative verdict of manslaughter.

The case continues.