A man accused of murdering another Slovakian national told police officers he was not the person who carried out the stabbing at the doorstep of a Bradford house.

Stanislav Misko said he had left the premises in Great Horton Road after a fight broke out among people he was drinking with.

Det Sgt Simon Leek told Leeds Crown Court in the first interview with officers Misko said: “I was trying to separate them but they were like crazy so I run away.”

Asked if he was responsible for the murder he replied: “No.”

Misko told officers he was in a shop that night when two other Slovakian men “gipsies” had approached him and asked him to come back for a drink.

He said he did not know them but went to the premises in Great Horton Road where there was already a couple of other men, and he was there for about half an hour when they “started fighting each other.”

He thought some of them might be high on drugs. When the violence continued and began to get worse he was scared so left, he said.

Misko said he returned to the address he was then living in Horton Grange Road and said he did not go out again.

Asked if he had any dispute with the man who died, Marek Benak, he replied: “I didn’t have a dispute with anyone.”

In later interviews Misko said “No comment” when officers put to him that CCTV footage appeared to show him leaving his flat and at some stage he appeared to be holding a knife.

Told a witness had identified him as outside the address in Great Horton Road with a knife, he was asked if that positive identification was because he had “just committed the murder and walked away.”

“No comment,” replied the defendant.

Misko, 47 later of Carlisle Road, Manningham, denies the murder of Mr Benak on October 23 last year.

The prosecution claim Misko argued with Mr Benak while drinking at the premises went to his own address and armed himself with a knife before returning and stabbing Mr Benak at the door of the house.

Earlier Tomasz Twardy told the jury through a Polish interpreter he was disturbed while in bed and got up to investigate. When he looked over the street in Great Horton Road he could see people arguing.

One man had a knife and another picked up a child’s trampoline and struck him with it. A woman was also present shouting and panicking.

He said he went and got his camera and filmed for a short time as the man walked away in one direction and then a man and woman in the other. He and other neighbours went to the house and waited for the ambulance to arrive.

The trial continues on Tuesday.