A Kingsbury carpenter was stabbed to death after he shouted abuse at his next-door neighbour on his way back from a night out with his girlfriend, a court heard.

John Martin, 41, of Doreen Avenue, was knifed in the heart by Darryn Madigan, 38, in front of his partner moments after getting out of a minicab.

Local residents witnessed the attack after hearing Mr Martin hurl drunken insults from the front garden of Madigan’s maisonette in the early hours of the morning, it is claimed.

Oliver Glasgow QC, prosecuting, told jurors at Old Bailey: “The fact he was drunk and abusive may do little to endear him to you.

“However none of that provides the defendant with a defence to murder, nor could it, since the mere fact that someone is drunk and abusive could never justify killing that person in cold blood.”

Madigan admits stabbing Mr Martin but claims he did not intend to cause serious harm.

Mr Martin, originally from County Meath in Ireland, had returned to his flat with his girlfriend at around 2.50am on August 7 last year.

Mr Glasgow said: “As they got out of the minicab John Martin went into the defendant’s front garden and began to shout abuse up to his top window.

“A scuffle broke out and during the scuffle he stabbed John Martin. He stabbed John Martin twice to the left side of his chest.”

Mr Martin, who was unarmed and wearing only a t-shirt on his upper body, was stabbed with such force that the knife cut through the ribcage and pierced the heart.

He died at the scene.

Madigan admits manslaughter but denies murder.

The court heard Madigan will claim the victim was ‘unpleasant and aggressive’ and threatened both him and his girlfriend.

The trial continues.