JOURDAN Griffiths had been beaten up and accused of being a police informer before his death, it was suggested to a murder trial yesterday.

The 20-year-old died from a single stab in an incident at a squat in White Hart Street, High Wycombe, in June last year.

Defence lawyer Andrew Hall alluded to facial injuries that Mr Griffiths had suffered in a previous incident and asked a witness if he knew anything about them.

Mr Hall said: “Did he [Mr Griffiths] not tell you anything about someone coming to his front door and barging in and beating him up...someone that beat him up and accused him of being an informer...of giving information to the police?”

Witness Daniel Hare told Reading Crown Court: “No I don't know anything about that...that's quite serious.”

Mr Hall then questioned the witness on what drugs he had taken on the day Mr Griffiths died. Mr Hare had previously told jurors he had smoked some cannabis skunk.

Mr Hare had told someone he had taken ketamine on that day, said Mr Rule, but Mr Hare disputed this and said he did not remember the conversation.

The court was also shown a photograph of an empty knife block in the kitchen of the squat. Mr Hare said he did not remember ever seeing any sharp knives in the block or in the kitchen.

Another photograph showed a carving knife in a 'pit' area at the back of Buckinghamshire House, where Mr Hare said one of the attackers had fallen as they ran away.

After initially saying he didn't recognise it Mr Hare said he thought it was the knife he saw in the hand of one of the attackers as they fled the squat.

Christopher Joseph, 22, denies Mr Griffiths' murder along with Lotto Williams, 19. A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also denies the charge.

Yesterday’s second witness, Tim Kaye, said he was one of the group of friends at the squat that evening. He said he had gone to answer the door when there was a knock.

He said his girlfriend has also walked into the hallway before they both stopped and “she kind of looked at me and I looked at her and it was weird...she kind of shook her head and said don't go.

He added: “I just got this feeling that she had a feeling that I shouldn't answer the door.”

Mr Griffiths had then gone past them and answered the door, he said.

The trial continues.