A murder-accused stood poised with a knife like an undercover commando waiting to strike, a jury heard.

Reaben Kareem had already stabbed Bradford University student Gavin Stolarczyk when he listened to his next victim moving about upstairs, it is alleged.

Gavin, a law student, said he was lured into the basement of the house in Grantham Road, Great Horton, Bradford, which he shared with Hong Kong students Tony Ho and his sister, Sally.

Tony, 19, who was studying chemistry and forensic science at the university, died on January 22 after he was stabbed and had his throat slashed.

His bank account was plundered.

The jury has heard that Kareem smashed a vodka bottle over Sally’s head. She was bound and gagged and locked in a dark cellar area.

Gavin, 30, told the jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday Kareem lured him into the basement sitting room for a chat.

Jwanru Osman, a tall man he had never seen before, was standing at the bottom of the stairs, it is alleged.

Gavin felt “a massive thump” to his back and fell forward over a settee. “I saw Reaben holding a knife with blood on it,” he said.

Asked to describe his face, Gavin said he had a look of anger and contempt.

He was in shock and blood was seeping from a wound to his left side.

Osman, also armed with a knife, bound the injury with a strip of fabric.

Kareem kept asking if Tony was in the house, the jury heard.

The men could hear floorboards creaking as someone walked about upstairs.

“He (Kareem) was like an undercover commando ready to go in and do something – ready with his knife.

“He was waiting and listening with his knife. He was looking up to the sounds coming from up the stairs,” Gavin said.

Kareem is said to have planned to rob the students because he had run up gambling debts.

Osman allegedly told police the crime was based on the horror film, Hostel.

Kareem, 20, of Coal Pool, Walsall, West Midlands, denies murder but admits conspiracy to rob and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Osman, 20, of Northolt, Middlesex, admits conspiracy to rob but denies murder and intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

Sally, 22, a pharmacy student, told the jury Kareem threatened to cut off her fingers or cut up her face if she did not reveal where valuables were.

At one stage, he pointed a knife at her throat and said: “It’s very easy to kill you now.”

The trial continues