A MAN allegedly beaten to death by his partner’s son had been carrying a knife because he feared he would be attacked, a court has heard.

A neighbour of James Atkinson, who was killed along with Neil Gilmore, both 55, at a flat in Waddington Avenue, Burnley, said she saw him carrying a knife the day he was killed.

Mr Atkinson’s partner Pamela Brown died of an insulin overdose just weeks before he and Mr Gilmore were killed, and her three children, Kenny Howson, Lee Howson and Krystal Howson, blamed him for not doing more to save her, the court heard.

Maria Coulston, who lived next to Mr Atkinson when he lived with Ms Brown in Brunshaw Road, spoke to him on the morning of October 4.

The home in Brunshaw Road had been attacked by arsonists while nobody was in it following the death of Ms Brown.

In a statement read in court, she aid: “While talking to Jimmy I could see he had something that looked like a knife in his pocket.

“I asked why he had it and he said he had heard Kenny Howson had set the house on fire and he was scared because he had heard Kenny was up for doing him in.

“I said he shouldn’t be carrying a knife.”

Later that evening it is alleged that Kenny Howson, 25, of Williams Road, and Daniel Waddington, 22, of Pine Street, went to the flat in Waddington Avenue and killed Mr Atkinson and Mr Gilmore.

On the second day of the trial at Preston Crown Court, Darren Lee said he heard Howson say he would 'do in' victim James Atkinson.

Mr Lee claimed Howson was drunk and mad at the time.

He told the court: “He said he was blaming Jimmy for what happened to his mother. He said he didn't want to wait for the inquest.

“He said he was going back up to Gilly’s and going to do Jimmy in and beat him up.

“He didn’t say how.”

Both men deny two charges of murder.

(Proceeding)

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