The first of five brothers on trial accused of murdering their cousin told the jury he was kicked, punched and blinded by chilli powder when violence erupted behind his home.

Mohammed Ali Nasar, 32, said he was unarmed and had no contact that night with Sarfraz Khan who was fatally stabbed in an alleyway after an alleged large-scale disturbance between the families broke out shortly after 10pm on Thursday, April 14.

Nasar and his brothers Amjid Ali, 39; Amir Ali, 19; Tariq Mahmood, 26; and Sajid Hussain, 33, all of Cecil Avenue, Great Horton, Bradford, deny murdering Mr Khan, 35, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to his cousins Aftab Khan and Asad Khan.

Nasar, a self-employed ice cream salesman, denies wounding another cousin, Idris Khan, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Bradford Crown Court has heard that a long-running family feud led to “extreme late-night violence,” following a row over a mop and bucket at Rossi’s Ices earlier that evening.

The dispute at the family business, on Richmond Road, Bradford, was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” after marriage breakdowns in the extended family caused tension and fall-outs, the prosecution claims.

Nasar told the court today six houses in Cecil Avenue were owned by family members.

All had got on fine until his wife, Sarfraz Khan's sister, had moved back into her family’s home about 18 months ago.

The households were then on “non-talking terms,” he said.

He admitted exchanging blows with members of his extended family on two occasions, in 2015 and in February last year, but he was never charged in connection with those incidents.

Nasar said Idris Khan attacked him in the street at the front of the houses, punching him in the left side of his head and cutting his finger.

He was cleaning himself up at home when he heard shouting and screaming and saw his brother, Amjid Ali, being assaulted.

When he went out, he was immediately attacked from behind and punched to the ground. Chilli powder was thrown in his face, his eyes were burning and he could not see clearly.

Nasar said he was kicked and punched and Idris Khan threatened to slash his face.

"I remember kicking out a few times and I managed to get on my two feet and get away," he said. "I was rubbing my eyes. They were watering and they were burning."

He saw his brother, Sajid Hussain, fall to the ground and when he went to pick him up, his hooded top was pulled over his head and he was attacked.

Nasar denied having a knife and said he made no contact with Sarfraz Khan, Aftab Khan and Asad Khan and was not aware they were injured.

"I did not even know Sarfraz was there," he said.

Nasar denied saying: "We've done them," afterwards.

He said he made no comment to the police in interview because he was in shock after his cousin had been killed and he had been charged with his murder.

The trial continues.