SCOTT Davidson told the jury he shot debt collector Martin Ithell by accident and his Ellesmere Port girlfriend then stabbed him.

As the defence case got under way, Davidson, 23, stood in the witness box yesterday (Tuesday) to tell the jury he understood victim Mr Ithell was visiting his Frodsham home on March 11 to discuss arrangements for him to repay a £26,000 debt.

Davidson and Rachael Horton, 19, of Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton, deny murdering Mr Ithell, 49, of Great Boughton, Chester, at the trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

Davidson alleged Horton went out shopping as Mr Ithell arrived at his house at about 7pm and became threatening.

The accused said: “He walked straight up to me and grabbed me by the throat.

“He said ‘I have come for my money’. I said ‘I have not got your money. You have only given me a week to get it. It will take a couple of weeks to get that sort of money. I have got some money for you but I have not got £26,000’”

Davidson said Horton then walked in and he added: “He pulled his firearm out with his left hand and grabbed me by the throat with his right hand and stuck it to my head.”

Davidson claims Ithell told him: “I’m going to kill you and do her as well.”

The defendant said he grabbed his father’s shotgun from a cupboard as Mr Ithell ran toward the kitchen, where Horton was hiding.

Davidson, who insisted he had not intended to discharge the weapon, said: “The shotgun went off. I remember seeing a flash and loads of smoke. I heard screaming. Rachael came out of the kitchen with a kitchen knife.”

At this stage, the badly wounded Mr Ithell shouted ‘He’s shot me, he’s shot me’ as though talking into his mobile phone headset.

Describing the moments after he collapsed, Davidson said: “She just stabbed him in the neck or shoulder area.”

Davidson then drove off with Mr Ithell’s body, saying he intended to take him to hospital.

During a phone conversation he said he told Horton: “It’s not your fault. I will take the blame for it.”

Earlier Davidson claimed he and Horton had been prepared to commit an armed robbery at Hapsford motorway services, near Chester, to pay off the debt he owed to Mr Ithell.