A TEENAGER has told a court he did not stab Sean Whyte in a disturbance in a Colne street.

Hasan Mumtaz, 18, of North Street, denies murdering Sean Whyte, wounding and violent disorder.

His brother Wasim Mumtaz, 21, also of North Street, denies violent disorder.

Hasan Mumtaz told the jury at Preston Crown Court that he was at home on the night of September 29 last year preparing to cut out some pictures when he heard screaming from the front of the house.

He said he recognised his brother's voice, ran through to the bedroom, looked out of the window to see his brother being beaten up.

The defendant said he ran downstairs, putting the scissors into his pocket and went out into the street where he heard people shouting racist abuse.

He told the jury that he grabbed his brother then someone grabbed him. He said the scissors fell into his hand and he swung out to keep his balance but didn't think the scissors made contact with anyone.

Hasan went on to say that he went back into the house but realised his brother had not followed. He opened the door and saw two people hitting his brother moving up North Street.

He said he ran up with the scissors still in his pocket and saw Wasim on the floor near Keighley Avenue with a woman holding his arms and people shouting racial abuse.

He said he noticed that one of the men had a weapon in his hand.

He said he punched Sean Whyte in the cheek and both of them fell to the floor.

Hasan said he got up and couldn't see his brother, was confused and heard Sean Whyte shouting he was bleeding.

He told the jury he had pulled the scissors out and waved them towards the crowd, then a car pulled up and he ran down North Street back to his house.

He heard banging on the door, which was opened to a policeman who arrested him.

He said while this was happened a woman had burst in shouting abuse and as he backed away the scissors fell onto the sofa, from where they were retrieved by a police officer.

Hasan Mumtaz said he had not taken a knife out of the house and had not stabbed Sean Whyte.

His brother Wasim later told the court that he had originally gone into the street to ask two people who were rowing, Michael Stewart and Hugh O'Neill, to be quiet. He said there could never have been a row over credit from his family's Glen Street shop as he had not worked there for about three months and had "no involvement whatsoever" with giving credit.

He told the court that Michael Stewart had attempted to punch him and spat at him, so he had hit him back.

He then said a crowd came out of the Whyte family home, hurled racial abuse at him, punched and kicked him and removed his top.

(Proceeding)