MTV presenter ‘knifed in dispute’

A presenter on the Dirty Sanchez programme on MTV was stabbed in the neck when he intervened in a dispute in a shop, a court has heard.

Edward Smith, 42, of Toftwood, Norfolk, denies a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent against Matthew Pritchard, 37, from Cardiff, in September 2009.

He also denies possessing an offensive weapon in a Co-op store in Toftwood.

Norwich Crown Court heard Mr Smith was abusive to staff and when confronted by Mr Pritchard he lashed out and cut him.

Earlier in the day Mr Smith had tried to cash a giro cheque made out in someone else’s name and when he was asked for identification he became abusive.

He later returned to the shop and began using foul language to staff.

‘Going to die’

Mr Pritchard asked him to show some respect because there were women and children around.

"I just grabbed him by the waist and by the arms and pushed him out of the shop," Mr Pritchard told jurors.

"He slashed down my neck. It all happened so quick."

Mr Pritchard told jurors that Mr Smith had used a "Stanley-type" knife and blood was "squirting" out.

He showed jurors wounds to his neck and chest and said he had needed about 20 stitches.

Mr Pritchard said: "I thought I was going to die."

Jurors saw closed circuit television footage of the moments leading up to the incident.

Mr Smith’s lawyer Jonathan Goodman said Mr Pritchard had grabbed the defendant in a vice-like grip.

"You were intending to give him a good hiding weren’t you" he asked but Mr Pritchard answered: "No."

The trial continues.</p

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